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Biocatalytic method development
Our lab is using enzymes to catalyze
i) C-C bond formation
ii) site and stereoselective reduction of naphthols & anthrols
iii) stereoselective reduction of imines, alkene, and keto bonds
iv) oxidation
v) hydroxylation
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Identification of new enzymes/catalytic functions
Our group is engaged in the identification of new enzymes or new catalytic of known enzymes, which can be applied towards the development of biocatalytic methods and chemoenzymatic routes for the synthesis of complex natural products.
In addition, we are modifying enzymes active and/or binding site using site-directed mutagenesis or site saturated mutagenesis. The new enzymes will not only broaden the substrate scope but will only be highly stereo-, regio- and chemoselective.
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Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of natural products
Combing the use of enzymes with chemical/non-enzymatic methods can be a very useful tool for the synthesis of complex natural products as demonstrated by us for bisanthraquinones and dihydroarenediols synthesis.
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Elucidation of Biosynthesis Pathways
Natural products isolated from fungus and bacteria have a complex biosynthetic pathway that involves many enzymes for their production. Elucidation of their biosynthesis can be very useful devising methodologies for the natural products which are short and more environmentally friendly. Understanding of biosynthetic pathways could help us produce natural products which are scarcely available from natural resources and are difficult to synthesize chemically.
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Enzyme based biosensors
Enzymes can be applied for the identification and quantification of specific metabolites/markers. Our group is working towards the development of enzyme based optical (UV or fluorescence) liquid assays/biosensors for quick and accurate detection of metabolites associated with diseases.