Institue of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology seminar series (IBMB) - Dr. Peter H. Buist

Website: IBMB seminar series  (Special day!)
Guest Speaker:  Dr. Peter H. Buist
(Professor, Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON)
Title of seminar: ""Iron, Oxygen and Unactivated C-H Bonds: From Membranes to Biofuels""
All are welcome!

Please contact the Host, Dr. John Honek, if anyone would like to meet with Dr. Buist during his visit.

Abstract:  The biosynthesis of hydrocarbons from fatty acids by diiron-containing enzymes is an exciting new development in lipid biochemistry. This biotransformation represents yet another example of extreme enzymology carried out by non-heme diiron-containing enzymes known as fatty acid desaturases.  These include the formation of cyclopropenes from cyclopropanes, acetylenes and allenes from cis-olefins and stereochemically/regiochemically pure olefins from hydrocarbons. By analyzing the stereochemistry and cryptoregiochemistry of fatty acid biomodification, one can develop mechanistic models that describe how desaturase variants control reaction outcome.  Some recent results in this area of research will be presented.