Bioorganic chemistry of unusual fatty acid biomodifications

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Our laboratory is engaged in the study of an important group of biological catalysts known as fatty acid modifying enzymes. These proteins are widely distributed in all life-forms and modifiy fatty acid components via highly selective chemistry. The primary focus of our research program is to understand the molecular mechanisms which control the functional outcome as well as the exquisite regio- and stereoselectivity of these enzymic processes. We have developed a series of probes for this purpose and these tools are now being used by several groups in Canada, USA and Europe to study related systems. We plan to continue our fundamental studies with special emphasis on those systems for which 3-D structural information is being obtained. In this manner, emerging trends in reactivity can be correlated with accurate active site models.