Lawrence P. Wackett

Office: 156a Gortner

Laboratory: 144/156 Gortner
Telephone: 612-624-4278

Research Homepage

Biocatalysis / Biodegradation Database

Research Description

The Wackett laboratory studies microbial catabolic enzymology and functional genomics: fundamental biological mechanisms, enzyme evolution and applications for biotechnology. Microbial enzymes represent the most diverse biocatalytic potential on Earth. Our knowledge of what nature has wrought is increasingly being used for bioremediation to detoxify hazardous waste and for biocatalysis to synthesize specialty and commodity chemicals. Current studies are focussed on microbial genomics and the generation of bio-based fuels from renewable resources. We represent the breadth of microbial biocatalytic reactions on the web-based Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database, see http://umbbd.msi.umn.edu/. This research has led to the development of software tools for predicting microbial metabolic pathways, see http://umbbd.msi.umn.edu/predictbt/.

Recent Publications

Gao, J., L.B.M. Ellis, and L.P. Wackett (2010) The University of Minnesota Biocatalysis/Biodegradation Database: Improving public access. Nucl. Acids Res. D488-D491.           

Seffernick, J.L.,  A.G. Dodge, M.J. Sadowsky, J.A. Bumpus, and L.P. Wackett (2010) Bacterial ammeline metabolism by guanine deaminase. J. Bacteriol. 192:1106-1112.

Wicker, J., K. Fenner, L.B.M. Ellis, L.P. Wackett and S. Kramer (2010) Predicting biodegradation products and pathways:  A hybrid knowledge-based and machine learning based approach. Bioinformatics 26: 814-821. doi:10.1093/ bioinformatics/btq024.

Sukovich, D.J., J.L. Seffernick, J.E. Richman,  K.A. Hunt, J.A. Gralnick,  and  L.P. Wackett (2010) Structure, function and insights into the biosynthesis of a head-to-head hydrocarbon in Shewanella oneidensis strain MR-1. Appl. Environ. Microbiol.76:3842-3849 .

Sukovich, D.J., J.L. Seffernick, J.E. Richman, J.A. Gralnick,  and  L.P. Wackett (2010) Widespread head-to-head hydrocarbon biosynthesis in bacteria and role of OleA. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 76:3850-3862.

Toyoda, M, K. Jitsumori, B. Mikami, L.P. Wackett, T. Kurihara, and N. Esaki (2010) Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of L-azetidine-2-carboxylate hydrolase from Pseudomonas sp. strain 2AC. Acta Crystallographica Section F 66:801-804.

Seffernick, J.L., E. Reynolds, A.A. Federov, E. Federov, S.C. Almo, M.J. Sadowsky, and L.P. Wackett (2010) X-ray structure and mutational analysis of the atrazine chlorohydrolase TrzN. J. Biol. Chem. 285:30606-30614.

Frias, J.A., B.R. Goblirsch, L.P. Wackett, and C.M. Wilmot (2010) Cloning, purification, and crystallization of the OleC protein from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia involved in head-to-head hydrocarbon biosynthesis. Acta Crystallographica Section F 66:1108-1110.