News

Wenbo publishes odyverdiene cyclization mechanism in ACS Catalysis

Wednesday April 1, 2026

Apr. 1, 2026: Elucidation of the cyclization mechanism of the bacterial diterpene synthase SalkS, showing that odyverdiene formation proceeds via a eunicellanyl intermediate. Congrats Wenbo and everyone involved!

Xiuting’s PhD Defense

Wednesday March 4, 2026

Feb. 10, 2026: Xiuting successfully defends her PhD dissertation. Congrats Xiuting!

Mohammed publishes mxyobacterial isobonnadiene synthase in Org. Lett.

Tuesday February 3, 2026

Feb. 3, 2026: Isobonnadiene synthase is the 2nd characterized diterpene synthase from myxobacteria. Comparison with the actinobacterial bonnadiene synthase revealed a single residue switch controlling isomer selectivity. Congrats Mohammed!

Daniel, Diana, and Wenbo graduate!

Friday December 12, 2025

Dec. 12, 2025. 3-for-1 graduation! Congrats and best wishes!

Tyler publishes bacterial UbiA-type TS

Monday September 22, 2025

Sept. 22, 2025: Published in ACS Catalysis, the noncanonical class of UbiA-type terpene synthases are shown to make cyathanes (previously known in fungi, sponges, and plants) in bacteria. Congrats Tyler!

Jeff is promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure

Friday July 4, 2025

June 23, 2025. It’s official!

Caitlin publishes bacterial bifunctional TS

Thursday June 12, 2025

June 9, 2025: Common in plants, long hypothesized in bacteria, now out in Org. Biol. Chem. Great work Caitlin!

Jeff receives NSF CAREER Award

Thursday June 12, 2025

May 1, 2025. The grant will support P450 biochemistry and natural products discovery. And he got a new headshot!

Caitlin Graduates!

Thursday May 1, 2025

May 1, 2025: Congrats!

Xiuting publishes mechanism of tetraisoquinane formation in JACS

Wednesday April 30, 2025

Apr. 30, 2025: A wonderful collaboration of a tricky diterpene cyclization mechanism with the Tantillo lab. Congrats Xiuting!

Expansion of the natural chemical space of bacterial diterpenes published in Nat. Commun.

Tuesday April 22, 2025

Apr. 19, 2025: A huge team effort, led by Xiuting and Wenbo! Congrats to all!

Wenbo’s MIE chapter is published

Wednesday March 12, 2025

March 12, 2025. Discovery of bacterial terpenoids by genome mining. Great work!

Caitlin defends her PhD

Monday March 10, 2025

March 10, 2025. Congrats!

Caitlin Publishes JIMB

Wednesday January 29, 2025

Biocatalytic diversification of abietic acid in Streptomyces

Noah Johnson joins the lab!

Tuesday October 15, 2024

First year grad students are the best!