A Day in the Life of the Micklefield Biotechnology Lab

See what a typical day in the Micklefield Lab {https://www.micklefieldlab.chemistry.manch...} looks like. Meet members of our group planning, executing, presenting research and having fun!

The Micklefield lab {https://www.micklefieldlab.chemistry.manch...} is based in the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology {https://www.mib.manchester.ac.uk/} at the University of Manchester developing more sustainable bio-inspired ways to build molecules using enzymes.

Nature uses enzymes to catalyse reactions building all of the molecules required for life. Enzymes also break down molecules to release energy that enables all living organisms to move forward. The Micklefield’s lab discovers novel enzymes from unusual bacteria and other places in nature. They characterise these enzymes to determine their structures and mechanisms. With this knowledge, they are able to re-programme the enzymes to create variants that can catalyse new reactions.

These engineered enzymes are used to produce novel antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance, antiviral agents that entered clinical trials for COVID-19, anticancer agents and other useful molecules. The enzymatic pathways they develop are cleaner and more sustainable than the traditional chemical synthesis routes that are currently used to prepare pharmaceuticals and other molecules.