{"id":180,"date":"2022-09-08T10:21:18","date_gmt":"2022-09-08T09:21:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/research\/?post_type=research_group&p=180"},"modified":"2022-12-21T10:29:31","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T10:29:31","slug":"the-goss-lab","status":"publish","type":"research_group","link":"https:\/\/biology.st-andrews.ac.uk\/research\/research-group\/the-goss-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"The Goss lab"},"content":{"rendered":"

Our group\u2019s research\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>includes a diverse array of projects within the field of\u00a0<\/span>chemical biology<\/strong>with\u00a0<\/span>natural products<\/strong>as the focus. We are particularly interested in understanding biosynthetic processes and the application of the powerful combination of\u00a0<\/span>synthetic biology\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>and\u00a0<\/span>organic synthesis<\/strong>to harness and redesign these systems, creating new biosynthetic pathways. We are interested in the manipulation of individual enzymes and biosynthetic pathways as an expeditious tools for synthesising designer \u201cnatural\u201d product analogues of\u00a0<\/span>medicinal value<\/strong>. The rapid access to libraries of natural products, that biosynthetic manipulation can afford, is useful for gaining a greater understanding of the exact molecular mode of action of drug molecules.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We are interested in understanding biosynthetic processes at the molecular level and combining the tools of organic synthesis, molecular biology and protein biochemistry to generate new natural products of our own design (Fig 1). This research has been recognized through several prestigious\u00a0<\/span>awards<\/u>.<\/p>\n

There are 4 main complementary and overlapping\u00a0<\/span>research\u00a0<\/span><\/u>projects ongoing within our group:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Harnessing Biosynthesis<\/u><\/strong>to Generate New to Nature Natural Products, Including the new approach of\u00a0<\/span>GenoChemetics<\/u>that we have pioneered<\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Biosynthetic Elucidation<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>We are particularly intrigued by medicinally relevant and biosynthetically exotic natural products, and in determining the chemistry, enzymology and genetic programming that underpins their assembly.<\/li>\n
  3. Discovering and Developing Enzymes for Use in Synthesis<\/u><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    (Including our engineered plug- and-play biocatalytic biofilm platform for use in flow chemistry) Biotransormations<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Natural Product Discovery<\/u><\/strong>(with a particular focus on finding new antibiotics with novel scaffolds and clinically unexploited modes of action) \u2013 we employ state-of-the-art approaches and discovery is directed by combining genome reading, metabolomics and bioactivity assessment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Our lab website: https:\/\/rjmg.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      We are interested in understanding biosynthetic processes at the molecular level and combining the tools of organic synthesis, molecular biology and protein biochemistry to generate new natural products of our own design.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":78,"featured_media":181,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-180","research_group","type-research_group","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"group_members":"\r\n\r\n

      \r\n

      Sunil Sharma<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>I am a synthetic\/ medicinal chemist with an interest in synthesis of bioactive molecules and analytical tools\u00a0for biochemical processes. My research interests include total synthesis of natural products, multi-step organic synthesis and development of bio-analytical methods. I am familiar pharmacophore based ligand design, SAR\/QSAR analysis and bioassays using in vitro enzyme screenings. My experience includes synthesis design and commercialisation on multinational collaborative projects involving biologists, IP experts and marketing. I have significant experience in project\/ laboratory management, supervision and training of research student, teaching and demonstrating chemistry practical to undergraduate students.\r\n\r\nSunil Sharma\u2019s CV<\/a>\r\n\r\n
      \r\n

      Helen Connaris<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>An experienced group leader and manager of research projects and teams in academia and in SME, with\u00a0focus on developing novel non-antibody protein therapeutics for application in disease. Strongly motivated\u00a0individual to find biological solutions to existing biological problems, particularly in the area of health. An\u00a0assertive but conscientious team player with experience in delivering projects to specific timelines.\r\n\r\nHelen Connaris\u2019s CV<\/a>\r\n\r\n
      \r\n

      Rosemary Lynch<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nI am a synthetic\/medicinal chemist with extensive experience in biotech and pharma now expanding my skill set in the areas of molecular biology and synthetic biology, towards diversification of natural products of medicinal interest.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nRosemary Lynch\u2019s CV<\/a>\r\n\r\n
      \r\n

      Yunpeng Wang<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nI am a highly motivated synthetic biology researcher with keen interest in promoter engineering,\u00a0pathway modification and compounds production using synthetic biology methods and protein\u00a0expression and purification. As a researcher in molecular biology, metabolic engineering, and\u00a0synthetic biology I have valuable experience in production of small molecules and natural\u00a0products through introduction and engineering of pathways. I have experience in elevating\u00a0production titres using pathway and promotor engineering. I also have skills in protein\u00a0production and purification. I have expertise in both LC and LCMSMS analysis which I apply\u00a0to both metabolomics and natural product identification.\r\n\r\nYunpeng Wang\u2019s CV<\/a>\r\n\r\n
      \r\n

      Ying Zhang<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nI am a PhD student in Goss group and focusing on finding new Flavin Dependent Halogenases\u00a0(FDHs). I have expertise in bioinformatics, heterologous expression and protein production\r\n\r\nThrough my MSc I have developed skills in microorganism cultivation including isolating and\u00a0identifying poisonous microbes and general molecular biology techniques, cloning work (total\u00a0RNA isolation-cDNA reverse transcription-DNA reproducing), Sugar content detection in fresh\u00a0fruit using HPLC.\r\n\r\nI am motivated, highly-efficient and have great communication skills, I am able to work under\u00a0pressure independently and have team spirit.\r\n\r\nYing Zhang\u2019s CV<\/a>\r\n\r\n
      \r\n

      David Alexander Burnett<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n\r\n\u00a0<\/a>\r\n\r\nI am a\u00a0<\/span>biochemist\u00a0<\/span><\/b>with research interests in the production and development of plant virus based nanotechnologies. As a PhD student at the University of St Andrews my project focuses on the development of enzyme coated nanoparticles derived from plant virus capsid proteins. I aim to develop a system capable of presenting enzymatic pathways on stable and re-usable particles with the hope of being able to produce these\u00a0<\/span>pathways on a particle\u00a0<\/span><\/b>on a large scale.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nDavid Alexander Burnett\u2019s CV<\/a>\r\n\r\n
      \r\n

      Samuel Molyneux<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nAs a current PhD student in the Goss group, my interests lie in catalysis, both synthetic organic chemistry and enzymatic systems.My PhD research is focussed on developing aqueous cross coupling methodologies to be merged with biosnynthetic organohalide generated using novel halogenases enzymes- this means and skills lie in synthetic organic chemistry, utilising bioinformatical tools to search for novel proteins, and enzyme production, purification, and analysis.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nSamuel Molyneux\u2019s CV<\/a>\r\n\r\n
      \r\n

      Camiel Leake<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>I am a highly motivated final-year MChem Student at the university of St Andrews. I have recently joined the Goss group as part of my final year research project where I have been utilising a bioinformatics approach to discover new flavin dependent halogenases. Between 2019 and 2020 I completed a 12 month long industrial placement at Roche Basel where I worked on two different projects and gained invaluable synthetic skills as well as a deeper and broader understanding of organic synthesis. I am currently motivated and looking for PhD positions with an emphasis on organic synthesis with applications to medicinal chemistry and biology.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nCamiel Leake\u2019s CV<\/a>\r\n\r\n
      \r\n

      Scarlet Ferrinho<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>I am currently a PhD student at the University of St Andrews. My undergraduate degree in\u00a0biomolecular science bridged the divide between chemistry and biology in a like manner to\u00a0my PhD. Working with both category I and II microorganisms means I have excellent aseptic\u00a0technique. Furthermore, I am competent in microbiology techniques in addition to synthetic\u00a0and analytical chemistry. I am skilled in the identification, production, isolation and\u00a0characterisation of natural products, as well as the production and purification of proteins.\r\n\r\nScarlet Ferrinho\u2019s CV<\/a>\r\n\r\n
      \r\n

      Alan Obled<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n\r\n\"\"<\/a>\r\n\r\nI am an organic chemist with research interests in the modification of natural products. Specifically, my\u00a0research focuses on natural products with medicinal properties. As a CRITICAT CDT student, my projects involve\u00a0conducting catalytic reactions, using homogenous catalysis and biocatalysis in order to obtain analogues of the\u00a0target natural products, and then screening their bioactivities, particularly antibiotic properties against a variety of\u00a0bacteria. My research endeavours on harnessing the power of Biosynthesis to produce complex and bio-active\u00a0metabolites possessing orthogonal reactive handles that can then be diversified using the flexibility of Chemistry.\r\n\r\nAlan Obled\u2019s CV<\/a>\r\n\r\n
      \r\n

      Gemma Fisher<\/h1>\r\n<\/header>\r\n
      \r\n\r\nI am a PhD Student jointly supervised by Dr Rafael da Silva and Professor Rebecca Goss. My PhD is part of the EASTBIO Doctoral Training Partnership and falls under the theme of industrial biotechnology and bioenergy. My research will elucidate the mechanism of Psychrobacter arcticus ATP phosphoribosyltransferase with the aim to generate opportunities for protein engineering. ATP phosphoribosyl transferase is the first enzyme of the histidine biosynthetic pathway. The goal of this project is development of ATP phosphoribosyltransferase suitable for industrial application.\r\n\r\nGemma Fisher CV<\/a>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","publications":"[publications flag='individual' code='rjmg' dois='1' max='10' categorise='1']","research_projects":"