Protein-protein interactions in the pantothenate biosynthetic pathway

Career overview

Professor Michael Webb is a biological chemist with a particular interest in the emerging field of engineering biology. He obtained his PhD from the University of Cambridge, where he worked with the late Professor Chris Abell. Following this, he undertook postdoctoral research with Professor Stephen Benkovic at Penn State University and Professor Alison Smith in Plant Sciences at Cambridge. Professor Webb joined the School of Chemistry at the University of Leeds as a Lecturer in Chemical Biology in 2007, was promoted to Associate Professor in 2014, and became a Professor of Biological Chemistry in 2023. His research interests lie at the interface of biochemistry and chemistry, and he is a member of the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology.

Research interests

Professor Webb''s research interests lie at the interface of biochemistry and chemistry, with a particular focus on biosynthesis and mechanistic aspects of protein chemistry. His work has included investigations into the pathways for essential metabolites such as pantothenate (vitamin B5), thiamine (vitamin B1), purines (the building blocks of DNA), and sirohaem, with current studies concentrating on the regulation within these pathways. Recently, he has developed interests in the controlled modification of proteins, the chemical biology of phosphorylation, and the biosynthesis of natural products. Notable highlights from his research include the characterisation of a fifth protein essential for pantothenate biosynthesis in bacteria, the development of methods for quantitative N-terminal labelling of proteins, and the synthesis of stable analogues of phosphorylated histidine. His research group employs a variety of biophysical approaches, including calorimetry, macromolecular crystallography, and organic synthesis. More detailed information about recent research and current projects can be found on the group website.

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