Research summary
Among the most important drug molecules in use today are organic compounds that have been isolated from organisms like bacteria, plants and fungi. Known in science as “natural products,” these compounds include antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs—and they have an incredible diversity of chemical structures and biological activities. Somehow, living organisms synthesize these complex molecules without any of the advantages of an organic chemist, such as access to high temperatures and solvents.
As Canada Research Chair in Biosynthetic Enzymes, Dr. Katherine Ryan aims to understand how these natural products are assembled in order to use this knowledge to discover new drugs and biocatalysts. Understanding the chemical biology of pathogenic and beneficial bacteria will enable Ryan and her research team to make significant contributions to health research.