Trosolwyg
The Richards laboratory studies the relationship between the structure and function of enzymes that either catalyze chemically interesting reactions or are potential targets for the development of drugs against cancer or tuberculosis. In addition, several projects aimed at creating new tools for synthetic biology are underway, with an emphasis on enzymes that can manipulate DNA and RNA containing expanded genetic alphabets both in vitro and in live cells. Our work relies on an interdisciplinary approach at the interface of chemistry, physical organic chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology and medicinal chemistry and involves a wide range of techniques. For more information, click on the 'Research' tab above.
Cyhoeddiad
2023
- Richards, N. G. J., Bearne, S. L., Goto, Y. and Parker, E. J. 2023. Reactivity and mechanism in chemical and synthetic biology. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 378(1871), article number: 20220023. (10.1098/rstb.2022.0023)
- Li, W., Girt, G. C., Radadiya, A., Stewart, J. J. P., Richards, N. G. J. and Naismith, J. H. 2023. Experimental and computational snapshots of C-C bond formation in a C-nucleoside synthase. Open Biology 13(1), article number: 220287. (10.1098/rsob.220287)
2022
- Bijani, S. et al. 2022. Novel dihydropyrimidinone derivatives as potential P-glycoprotein modulators. ACS Omega 7(19), pp. 16278-16287. (10.1021/acsomega.1c05839)
2021
- Riegert, A. S., Narindoshvili, T., Coricello, A., Richards, N. G. J. and Raushel, F. M. 2021. Functional characterization of two PLP-dependent enzymes involved in capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis from campylobacter jejuni. Biochemistry 60(37), pp. 2836–2843. (10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00439)
2020
- Ouaray, Z., Benner, S. A., Georgiadis, M. M. and Richards, N. G. J. 2020. Building better polymerases: Engineering the replication of expanded genetic alphabets. Journal of Biological Chemistry 295(50), pp. 17046-17059. (10.1074/jbc.REV120.013745)
- Radadiya, A., Zhu, W., Coricello, A., Alcaro, S. and Richards, N. G. J. 2020. Improving the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Biochemistry 59(35), pp. 3193-3200. (10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00354)
- Gao, S. et al. 2020. Uncovering the chemistry of C–C bond formation in C-nucleoside biosynthesis: crystal structure of a C-glycoside synthase/PRPP complex. Chemical Communications 56(55), pp. 7617-7620. (10.1039/D0CC02834G)
- Eberlein, L. et al. 2020. Tautomeric equilibria of nucleobases in the hachimoji expanded genetic alphabet. Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation 16(4), pp. 2766-2777. (10.1021/acs.jctc.9b01079)
- Zhu, W., Liu, X., Hughes, M., de Crécy-Lagard, V. and Richards, N. G. J. 2020. Whole-genome sequence of Streptomyces kaniharaensis Shomura and Niida SF-557. Microbiology Resource Announcements 9(14), article number: e01434-19. (10.1128/MRA.01434-19)
- Ouaray, Z., Singh, I., Georgiadis, M. M. and Richards, N. G. J. 2020. Building better enzymes: molecular basis of improved non-natural nucleobase incorporation by an evolved DNA polymerase. Protein Science 29(2) (10.1002/pro.3762)
2019
- Gao, S., Liu, H., de Crécy-Lagard, V., Zhu, W., Richards, N. G. J. and Naismith, J. H. 2019. PMP-diketopiperazine adducts form at the active site of a PLP dependent enzyme involved in formycin biosynthesis. Chemical Communications 55(96), pp. 14502-14505. (10.1039/C9CC06975E)
- Zhu, W. et al. 2019. Author correction: High-resolution crystal structure of human asparagine synthetase enables analysis of inhibitor binding and selectivity. Communications Biology 2(1), article number: 438. (10.1038/s42003-019-0690-1)
- Zhu, W. et al. 2019. High-resolution crystal structure of human asparagine synthetase enables analysis of inhibitor binding and selectivity. Communications Biology 2, article number: 345. (10.1038/s42003-019-0587-z)
2018
- Zhu, W., Reinhardt, L. A. and Richards, N. G. J. 2018. Second-shell hydrogen bond impacts transition-state structure in bacillus subtilis oxalate decarboxylase. Biochemistry 57(24), pp. 3425-3432. (10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00214)
2017
- Jin, Y. et al. 2017. Assessing the influence of mutation on GTPase transition states by using x-ray crystallography, 19F NMR, and DFT approaches. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 56(33), pp. 9732-9735. (10.1002/anie.201703074)
- Malhotra, S. et al. 2017. Chemoenzymatic synthesis, nanotization and anti- aspergillus activity of optically enriched fluconazole analogues. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 61(8), article number: e00273-17. (10.1128/AAC.00273-17)
- Sheng, X., Zhu, W., Huddleston, J., Xiang, D. . F., Raushel, F. M., Richards, N. . G. J. and Himo, F. 2017. A combined experimental-theoretical study of the ligW-catalyzed decarboxylation of 5-carboxyvanillate in the metabolic pathway for lignin degradation. ACS Catalysis 7(8), pp. 4968-4974. (10.1021/acscatal.7b01166)
- Richards, N. G. J. and Georgiadis, M. M. 2017. Toward an expanded genome: structural and computational characterization of an artificially expanded genetic information system. Accounts of Chemical Research 50(6), pp. 1375-1382. (10.1021/acs.accounts.6b00655)
- Zhu, W. and Richards, N. G. J. 2017. Biological functions controlled by manganese redox changes in mononuclear Mn-dependent enzymes. Essays in Biochemistry 61(2), pp. 259-270. (10.1042/EBC20160070)
- Blackburn, G. M., Cherfils, J., Moss, G. P., Richards, N. G. J., Waltho, J. P., Williams, N. H. and Wittinghofer, A. 2017. How to name atoms in phosphates, polyphosphates, their derivatives and mimics, and transition state analogues for enzyme-catalysed phosphoryl transfer reactions (IUPAC Recommendations 2016). Pure and Applied Chemistry 89(5), pp. 653-675. (10.1515/pac-2016-0202)
- Molt, R., Georgiadis, M. M. and Richards, N. G. J. 2017. Consecutive non-natural PZ nucleobase pairs in DNA impact helical structure as seen in 50 μs molecular dynamics simulations. Nucleic Acids Research 45(7), pp. 3643-3653. (10.1093/nar/gkx144)
- Blackburn, G. M., Jin, Y., Richards, N. G. and Waltho, J. P. 2017. Metal fluorides as analogs for studies on phosphoryl transfer enzymes. Angewandte Chemie 129(15), pp. 4172-4192. (10.1002/ange.201606474)
- Jin, Y., Richards, N. G. J., Waltho, J. P. and Blackburn, G. M. 2017. Metal fluorides as analogues for studies on phosphoryl transfer enzymes. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 56(15), pp. 4110-4128. (10.1002/anie.201606474)
2016
- Kumar, A. et al. 2016. Synthesis of macromolecular systems via lipase catalyzed biocatalytic reactions: applications and future perspectives. Chemical Society Reviews 45(24), pp. 6855-6887. (10.1039/C6CS00147E)
- Molt, R., Watson, T., Bazanté, A. P., Bartlett, R. J. and Richards, N. G. 2016. Gas phase RDX decomposition pathways using coupled cluster theory. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 18(37), pp. 26069-26077. (10.1039/C6CP05121A)
- Zhu, W. et al. 2016. Substrate binding mode and molecular basis of a specificity switch in oxalate decarboxylase. Biochemistry 85(14), pp. 2163-2173. (10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00043)
- Jin, Y., Molt Jr, R. W., Waltho, J. P., Richards, N. G. J. and Blackburn, G. M. 2016. 19F NMR and DFT analysis reveal structural and electronic transition state features for RhoA-catalyzed GTP hydrolysis. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 55(10), pp. 3318-3322. (10.1002/anie.201509477)
- Kumar, P. et al. 2016. Microwave-assisted, metal-free, base-mediated C-N bond formation/cleavage: synthesis of benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinazoline derivatives. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 4(4), pp. 2206-2210. (10.1021/acssuschemeng.5b01669)
- Vladimirova, A. et al. 2016. Substrate distortion and the catalytic reaction mechanism of 5-carboxyvanillate decarboxylase. Journal of the American Chemical Society 138(3), pp. 826-836. (10.1021/jacs.5b08251)
- Zhu, W., Wilcoxen, J., Britt, R. D. and Richards, N. G. J. 2016. Formation of hexacoordinate Mn(III) in Bacillus subtilis oxalate decarboxylase requires catalytic turnover. Biochemistry 55(3), pp. 429-434. (10.1021/acs.biochem.5b01340)
- Sharma, P. K. et al. 2016. Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity evaluation of novel triazolyl-isatin hybrids. Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry 31(6), pp. 1520-1526. (10.3109/14756366.2016.1151015)
2015
- Hettmer, S. et al. 2015. Functional genomic screening reveals asparagine dependence as a metabolic vulnerability in sarcoma. eLife 4, article number: e09436. (10.7554/eLife.09436)
- Georgiadis, M. M., Singh, I., Kellett, W. F., Hoshika, S., Benner, S. A. and Richards, N. G. J. 2015. Structural basis for a six nucleotide genetic alphabet. Journal of the American Chemical Society 137(21), pp. 6947-6955. (10.1021/jacs.5b03482)
- Molt Jr., R. W., Lecher, A. M., Clark, T., Bartlett, R. J. and Richards, N. G. J. 2015. Facile Csp2-Csp2 bond cleavage in oxalic acid-derived radicals. Journal of the American Chemical Society 137(9), pp. 3248-3252. (10.1021/ja510666r)
- Twahir, U. T., Stedwell, C. N., Lee, C. T., Richards, N. G. J., Polfer, N. C. and Angerhofer, A. 2015. Observation of superoxide production during catalysis of Bacillus subtilis oxalate decarboxylase at pH 4. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 80, pp. 59. (10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.12.012)
2014
- Miao, J., Richards, N. and Ge, H. 2014. Rhodium-catalyzed direct synthesis of unprotected NH-sulfoximines from sulfoxides. Chemical Communications- Royal Society of Chemistry 50(68), pp. 9687-9689. (10.1039/c4cc04349a)
- Brunk, E., Kellett, W., Richards, N. and Rothlisberger, U. 2014. A mechanochemical switch to control radical intermediates. Biochemistry 53(23), pp. 3830-3838. (10.1021/bi500050k)
- Campomanes, P. et al. 2014. Assigning the EPR fine structure parameters of the Mn(II) centers in bacillus subtilis oxalate decarboxylase by site-directed mutagenesis and DFT/MM calculations. Journal of the American Chemical Society 136(6), pp. 2313-2323. (10.1021/ja408138f)
Articles
- Richards, N. G. J., Bearne, S. L., Goto, Y. and Parker, E. J. 2023. Reactivity and mechanism in chemical and synthetic biology. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 378(1871), article number: 20220023. (10.1098/rstb.2022.0023)
- Li, W., Girt, G. C., Radadiya, A., Stewart, J. J. P., Richards, N. G. J. and Naismith, J. H. 2023. Experimental and computational snapshots of C-C bond formation in a C-nucleoside synthase. Open Biology 13(1), article number: 220287. (10.1098/rsob.220287)
- Bijani, S. et al. 2022. Novel dihydropyrimidinone derivatives as potential P-glycoprotein modulators. ACS Omega 7(19), pp. 16278-16287. (10.1021/acsomega.1c05839)
- Riegert, A. S., Narindoshvili, T., Coricello, A., Richards, N. G. J. and Raushel, F. M. 2021. Functional characterization of two PLP-dependent enzymes involved in capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis from campylobacter jejuni. Biochemistry 60(37), pp. 2836–2843. (10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00439)
- Ouaray, Z., Benner, S. A., Georgiadis, M. M. and Richards, N. G. J. 2020. Building better polymerases: Engineering the replication of expanded genetic alphabets. Journal of Biological Chemistry 295(50), pp. 17046-17059. (10.1074/jbc.REV120.013745)
- Radadiya, A., Zhu, W., Coricello, A., Alcaro, S. and Richards, N. G. J. 2020. Improving the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Biochemistry 59(35), pp. 3193-3200. (10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00354)
- Gao, S. et al. 2020. Uncovering the chemistry of C–C bond formation in C-nucleoside biosynthesis: crystal structure of a C-glycoside synthase/PRPP complex. Chemical Communications 56(55), pp. 7617-7620. (10.1039/D0CC02834G)
- Eberlein, L. et al. 2020. Tautomeric equilibria of nucleobases in the hachimoji expanded genetic alphabet. Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation 16(4), pp. 2766-2777. (10.1021/acs.jctc.9b01079)
- Zhu, W., Liu, X., Hughes, M., de Crécy-Lagard, V. and Richards, N. G. J. 2020. Whole-genome sequence of Streptomyces kaniharaensis Shomura and Niida SF-557. Microbiology Resource Announcements 9(14), article number: e01434-19. (10.1128/MRA.01434-19)
- Ouaray, Z., Singh, I., Georgiadis, M. M. and Richards, N. G. J. 2020. Building better enzymes: molecular basis of improved non-natural nucleobase incorporation by an evolved DNA polymerase. Protein Science 29(2) (10.1002/pro.3762)
- Gao, S., Liu, H., de Crécy-Lagard, V., Zhu, W., Richards, N. G. J. and Naismith, J. H. 2019. PMP-diketopiperazine adducts form at the active site of a PLP dependent enzyme involved in formycin biosynthesis. Chemical Communications 55(96), pp. 14502-14505. (10.1039/C9CC06975E)
- Zhu, W. et al. 2019. Author correction: High-resolution crystal structure of human asparagine synthetase enables analysis of inhibitor binding and selectivity. Communications Biology 2(1), article number: 438. (10.1038/s42003-019-0690-1)
- Zhu, W. et al. 2019. High-resolution crystal structure of human asparagine synthetase enables analysis of inhibitor binding and selectivity. Communications Biology 2, article number: 345. (10.1038/s42003-019-0587-z)
- Zhu, W., Reinhardt, L. A. and Richards, N. G. J. 2018. Second-shell hydrogen bond impacts transition-state structure in bacillus subtilis oxalate decarboxylase. Biochemistry 57(24), pp. 3425-3432. (10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00214)
- Jin, Y. et al. 2017. Assessing the influence of mutation on GTPase transition states by using x-ray crystallography, 19F NMR, and DFT approaches. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 56(33), pp. 9732-9735. (10.1002/anie.201703074)
- Malhotra, S. et al. 2017. Chemoenzymatic synthesis, nanotization and anti- aspergillus activity of optically enriched fluconazole analogues. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 61(8), article number: e00273-17. (10.1128/AAC.00273-17)
- Sheng, X., Zhu, W., Huddleston, J., Xiang, D. . F., Raushel, F. M., Richards, N. . G. J. and Himo, F. 2017. A combined experimental-theoretical study of the ligW-catalyzed decarboxylation of 5-carboxyvanillate in the metabolic pathway for lignin degradation. ACS Catalysis 7(8), pp. 4968-4974. (10.1021/acscatal.7b01166)
- Richards, N. G. J. and Georgiadis, M. M. 2017. Toward an expanded genome: structural and computational characterization of an artificially expanded genetic information system. Accounts of Chemical Research 50(6), pp. 1375-1382. (10.1021/acs.accounts.6b00655)
- Zhu, W. and Richards, N. G. J. 2017. Biological functions controlled by manganese redox changes in mononuclear Mn-dependent enzymes. Essays in Biochemistry 61(2), pp. 259-270. (10.1042/EBC20160070)
- Blackburn, G. M., Cherfils, J., Moss, G. P., Richards, N. G. J., Waltho, J. P., Williams, N. H. and Wittinghofer, A. 2017. How to name atoms in phosphates, polyphosphates, their derivatives and mimics, and transition state analogues for enzyme-catalysed phosphoryl transfer reactions (IUPAC Recommendations 2016). Pure and Applied Chemistry 89(5), pp. 653-675. (10.1515/pac-2016-0202)
- Molt, R., Georgiadis, M. M. and Richards, N. G. J. 2017. Consecutive non-natural PZ nucleobase pairs in DNA impact helical structure as seen in 50 μs molecular dynamics simulations. Nucleic Acids Research 45(7), pp. 3643-3653. (10.1093/nar/gkx144)
- Blackburn, G. M., Jin, Y., Richards, N. G. and Waltho, J. P. 2017. Metal fluorides as analogs for studies on phosphoryl transfer enzymes. Angewandte Chemie 129(15), pp. 4172-4192. (10.1002/ange.201606474)
- Jin, Y., Richards, N. G. J., Waltho, J. P. and Blackburn, G. M. 2017. Metal fluorides as analogues for studies on phosphoryl transfer enzymes. Angewandte Chemie - International Edition 56(15), pp. 4110-4128. (10.1002/anie.201606474)
- Kumar, A. et al. 2016. Synthesis of macromolecular systems via lipase catalyzed biocatalytic reactions: applications and future perspectives. Chemical Society Reviews 45(24), pp. 6855-6887. (10.1039/C6CS00147E)
- Molt, R., Watson, T., Bazanté, A. P., Bartlett, R. J. and Richards, N. G. 2016. Gas phase RDX decomposition pathways using coupled cluster theory. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 18(37), pp. 26069-26077. (10.1039/C6CP05121A)
- Zhu, W. et al. 2016. Substrate binding mode and molecular basis of a specificity switch in oxalate decarboxylase. Biochemistry 85(14), pp. 2163-2173. (10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00043)
- Jin, Y., Molt Jr, R. W., Waltho, J. P., Richards, N. G. J. and Blackburn, G. M. 2016. 19F NMR and DFT analysis reveal structural and electronic transition state features for RhoA-catalyzed GTP hydrolysis. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 55(10), pp. 3318-3322. (10.1002/anie.201509477)
- Kumar, P. et al. 2016. Microwave-assisted, metal-free, base-mediated C-N bond formation/cleavage: synthesis of benzimidazo[1,2-a]quinazoline derivatives. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 4(4), pp. 2206-2210. (10.1021/acssuschemeng.5b01669)
- Vladimirova, A. et al. 2016. Substrate distortion and the catalytic reaction mechanism of 5-carboxyvanillate decarboxylase. Journal of the American Chemical Society 138(3), pp. 826-836. (10.1021/jacs.5b08251)
- Zhu, W., Wilcoxen, J., Britt, R. D. and Richards, N. G. J. 2016. Formation of hexacoordinate Mn(III) in Bacillus subtilis oxalate decarboxylase requires catalytic turnover. Biochemistry 55(3), pp. 429-434. (10.1021/acs.biochem.5b01340)
- Sharma, P. K. et al. 2016. Synthesis and anti-inflammatory activity evaluation of novel triazolyl-isatin hybrids. Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry 31(6), pp. 1520-1526. (10.3109/14756366.2016.1151015)
- Hettmer, S. et al. 2015. Functional genomic screening reveals asparagine dependence as a metabolic vulnerability in sarcoma. eLife 4, article number: e09436. (10.7554/eLife.09436)
- Georgiadis, M. M., Singh, I., Kellett, W. F., Hoshika, S., Benner, S. A. and Richards, N. G. J. 2015. Structural basis for a six nucleotide genetic alphabet. Journal of the American Chemical Society 137(21), pp. 6947-6955. (10.1021/jacs.5b03482)
- Molt Jr., R. W., Lecher, A. M., Clark, T., Bartlett, R. J. and Richards, N. G. J. 2015. Facile Csp2-Csp2 bond cleavage in oxalic acid-derived radicals. Journal of the American Chemical Society 137(9), pp. 3248-3252. (10.1021/ja510666r)
- Twahir, U. T., Stedwell, C. N., Lee, C. T., Richards, N. G. J., Polfer, N. C. and Angerhofer, A. 2015. Observation of superoxide production during catalysis of Bacillus subtilis oxalate decarboxylase at pH 4. Free Radical Biology and Medicine 80, pp. 59. (10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.12.012)
- Miao, J., Richards, N. and Ge, H. 2014. Rhodium-catalyzed direct synthesis of unprotected NH-sulfoximines from sulfoxides. Chemical Communications- Royal Society of Chemistry 50(68), pp. 9687-9689. (10.1039/c4cc04349a)
- Brunk, E., Kellett, W., Richards, N. and Rothlisberger, U. 2014. A mechanochemical switch to control radical intermediates. Biochemistry 53(23), pp. 3830-3838. (10.1021/bi500050k)
- Campomanes, P. et al. 2014. Assigning the EPR fine structure parameters of the Mn(II) centers in bacillus subtilis oxalate decarboxylase by site-directed mutagenesis and DFT/MM calculations. Journal of the American Chemical Society 136(6), pp. 2313-2323. (10.1021/ja408138f)
Ymchwil
The Richards laboratory studies the relationship between the structure and function of enzymes that either catalyze chemically interesting reactions or are potential targets for the development of drugs against cancer or tuberculosis. In addition, several projects aimed at creating new tools for synthetic biology are underway, with an emphasis on enzymes that can manipulate DNA and RNA containing expanded genetic alphabets both in vitro and in live cells. Our work relies on an interdisciplinary approach at the interface of chemistry, physical organic chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology and medicinal chemistry and involves a wide range of techniques. The main research themes are:
Computational Biology
Our group uses computational methods in order to complement experimental studies into enzyme catalysis and evolution, synthetic biology and medicinal chemistry. Advanced quantum mechanical (QM) methods, including coupled-cluster, DFT and QM/MM calculations, are used to model the structure and electronic properties of a variety of systems, including novel nucleobases used in expanded genetic alphabets, enzyme reaction mechanisms and transition state structures, and how protein environments modulate transition metal reactivity. We also force field-based classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and enhanced sampling methods to explore the dynamical properties of DNA and RNA molecules containing non-standard nucleobases, and the free energy of interaction in enzyme/inhibitor and protein/nucleic acid complexes.
Fundamental Studies of Enzyme Catalysis and Enzyme Evolution
The molecular basis by which enzymes, particularly those that are transition metal-dependent, catalyze chemically unusual transformations are studied in a multi-disciplinary approach. The goal of current projects is to examine how metals generate substrate-based radicals, which can then undergo reactions for which there is no organic chemical precedent.
Synthetic Biology
Synthetic Biology capitalizes on advances in genomics and proteomics and new insights from chemical and physical studies into the molecular mechanisms by which biological molecules perform their cellular function. Our projects aim to understand the structure and properties of DNA and RNA containing additional nucleobases, and to develop novel reagents (endonucleases and polymerases) by which non-standard nucleobases can be manipulated. In addition, we are involved in reengineering several enzymes in order to obtain variants that can be introduced into cells and used for the synthesis of important chemicals and synthetic intermediates.
Medicinal Chemistry/Synthesis.
Small molecule chemistry together with mechanistic studies of enzymes for the development of selective inhibitors that can be used to treat (i) sarcoma and breast cancer, and (ii) bacterial infections, with a particular emphasis on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the causative agent of tuberculosis).
Addysgu
CH2317 Chemical Biology III: Biosynthetic Approach to Natural Products
CHT214 Biocatalysis I: Modern Approaches to Biocatalysts
Bywgraffiad
B.Sc. (Hons.), Imperial College, University of London (1980), PhD Cambridge University (1980-83).
Commonwealth Foundation (Harkness) Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Columbia University, New York (1983-1985), University Lecturer Department of Chemistry, University of Southampton (1985-1990), Assistant Professor in Chemistry, University of Florida (1990-1996), Associate Professor in Chemistry, University of Florida (1996-2003), Full Professor in Chemistry, University of Florida (2003-2012), Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2010), Full Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (2012-2015). Since 2015: Professor of Biological Chemistry, Cardiff School of Chemistry.