Micklefield Lab

Our latest paper just out in Nature Chemical Biology describes highly unexpected cryptic enzymology, not seen before in nature, and provides a new way to synthesise peptides (future therapeutics) using ligase enzymes.

Cryptic enzymatic assembly of peptides armed with β-lactone warheads. Nature Chem Biol (2024): https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-024-01657-7

A Research Briefing “Enzymatic synthesis of peptide therapeutics”  includes a summary of the results, author insight, along with opinions from the reviewer and editors: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-024-01658-6

This blog provides further insight into the discovery “Elucidating how nature installs reactive warheads onto peptides.”

For more news commentary read, “Manchester scientists pave way for greener cancer treatments with new enzyme discovery“

Sydney, Izzy, Guangcai, Puja, Waraporn and Elsa from our lab had a great time at Directing Biosynthesis #DBVII. Some fantastic lectures including a super talk from Guangcai on the cryptic enzymatic assembly of peptide anticancer agents. Many thanks to the organisers. Looking forward to the next conference in this series DBVIII.

Beautiful first day for our lab retreat, visiting Grasmere, Rydal Caves and even warm enough for a swim

Day 2 of our visit to the lakes we trekked to the summit of Silver How before heading down to Grasmere

It was a brilliant few days away with the whole team in the Lake District. Taking in the sights in glorious weather and enjoying spending lots of time together

Very happy our lab was awarded an ERC Advanced Grant. We will be looking to recruit several postdocs and PhDs soon 🙂

https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/news/erc-2023-advanced-grants-results

https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/manchester-researchers-awarded-prestigious-funding-to-pursue-projects-that-could-lead-to-major-scientific-breakthroughs/

The Micklefield lab have been awarded the Royal Society of Chemistry’s 2023 Chemistry Biology Interface Horizon Prize: Rita and John Cornforth Award, in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline, for successfully discovered new enzymes for sustainable synthesis.

They discovered and engineered enzymes and pathways to provide more sustainable and efficient routes to new and improved antimicrobials and other important therapeutic agents. Their work has the potential to help reduce problems of chemical waste and could lead to more affordable products, including medicines, to help combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and treat neglected diseases in the developing world.

Our lab had its annual summer party. Lots of beer & food as usual. It was great fun even when it started raining and we had to pack into the front room. Well done for all your excellent research. It is a privilege to work with you all!

We are having a great time at Directing Biosynthesis VI in Edinburgh presenting our recent research and enjoying some fantastic talks including an excellent lecture from our very own Wei li Thong

Want to see what a typical day in our lab looks like. Meet members of our group having fun, planning, executing and presenting their exciting research!

Prof Dongxu Jia studied for his PhD at Jiangnan University in the field of fermentation engineering. He now works at the Zhejiang University of Technology as an associate professor and joins us as a visiting researcher with a CSC fellowship

Dr Guangcai Xu trained in biochemistry at Xi’an Jiaotong and the University of Liverpool. He worked in industrial biocatalysis at Suzhou before completing his PhD at the University of Groningen.

Dr Remi Zallot obtained his doctorate degree from Université de Bordeaux, held PDRA positions at University of Florida, University of Illinois at Urabana-Champaign and a Marie Curie Individual Fellowship at Swansea University

Dr Andreea Iorgu received her BEng in Chemical Engineering and MEng in Advanced Materials from Politehnica University of Bucharest before studying for a PhD in Biophysical Chemistry at the University of Manchester. She continued her research in Sam Hay’s group and joins the group as a PDRA.

Aimee received her MChem degree from the University of Manchester. Continuing in Manchester, Aimee joined the iCAT CDT. She has previously completed project rotations with the Procter and the Bures group

Kehan studied for an MChem in Chemistry at the University of Manchester having undertaken internships at Nanjing Tech University, Suzhou university and Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences