Talk Title: 'Radical chemistry and metalloproteins - structure/function studies under anaerobic conditions'

Metals lie at the heart of chemical processes that are at the origin of life and they play a crucial role in the function of numerous important proteins. The specific properties of metals are used in catalytic processes that are often inaccessible for active sites lacking them. Conversely, the metal properties may be tuned by the protein environment in ways that are difficult to mimic in synthetic compounds. All these aspects are studied in the Metalloproteins Unit. Dr. Nicolet employs crystallographic and computational methods to study the function of metalloproteins, i.e. their catalytic mechanisms, substrate recognition, substrate/product diffusion pathways and their inhibition by molecules like O2. Several of the studied metalloenzymes are involved in the utilization or production of gaseous compounds like H2, CO and CO2 (e.g. hydrogenases, CO dehydrogenase/acetyl-CoA synthase).

Yvain Nicolet obtained his Ph.D. degree at the University Joseph Fourier in Grenoble. He subsequently served as a postdoctoral fellow in Catherine L. Drennan’s laboratory at MIT. In 2004, he joined the “metalloproteins” group at the Institut de Biologie Structurale in Grenoble as a permanent scientist. Since then, he has developed a project focused on the structural study of radical SAM enzymes. In 2016, he succeeded Juan C. Fontecilla-Camps as group leader of the “metalloproteins” unit. His current research focuses on radical-based chemistry, metalloproteins and antibiotic biosynthesis.

Host: Nevan Krogan