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Binuraj Menon

Binuraj Menon

Dr

 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6852-8053

Personal profile

Research Interests

MENON GROUP

My research group's main aim is to identify and exploit potential untapped and alternative sources of biocatalysts. We are particularly interested in the development of new synthetic/biosynthetic routes and plausible chemo-enzymatic approaches that can directly incorporate different biocatalysts. The versatility of these methods when combined with existing biosynthetic pathways will open up new modes of synthesizing building blocks and derivatives of many existing drug targets and APIs that are currently marketed.

We have a long-standing interest in utilizing halogenases enzymes to synthesise non-naturals and to generate artificial enzymatic systems. These are versatile catalysts to synthesise many value-added chemicals and biomolecules with unique chemical or biophysical properties. Our approaches combine different aspects and research tools available from the fields of Synthetic Biology, Synthetic Chemistry, Enzymology, Structural Biology, Chemical Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Metallo-catalysis. We apply various techniques including directed evolution, mechanistic and structural characterization, other biophysical techniques, combinatorial/retrospective engineering, microbial and pathway chassis engineering, machine learning and organic synthesis.

Please check our group website for more details 

We are actively looking for MRes and PhD students. Details of the currently advertised projects are below.

Project 1 : Challenging LEGO plastics: Designing novel enzymes for biodegradation (self funded/students with scholarships)

Project 2: Development of novel halogenase enzymes for biopharmaceutical applications  (self funded/students with scholarships)

 

Biography

  • Senior Lecturer in Biotechnology, The University of Portsmouth (from Sept 2021)

  • WISB Research Career Development Fellow, The University of Warwick (2017-2021)

  • EMBO Fellowship 2017, Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany.

  • Research Fellow (2010 - 2017), Chemical biology, The University of Manchester.

  • PhD in Molecular Enzymology (2006 - 2009), The University of Manchester.

Keywords

  • QD Chemistry
  • Chemical Biology
  • Synthetic Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biopharmaceuticals
  • Q Science (General)
  • Biology
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biophysics
  • Enzymology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Structural Biology

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 1 - No Poverty
    SDG 1 No Poverty
  2. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  3. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  4. SDG 5 - Gender Equality
    SDG 5 Gender Equality
  5. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  6. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
  7. SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth
    SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
  8. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  9. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  10. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  11. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  12. SDG 14 - Life Below Water
    SDG 14 Life Below Water
  13. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land
  14. SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
    SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
  15. SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals
    SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

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