Jaclyn Winter, PhD

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Secondary metabolites are specialized small molecules produced in nature and often possess a variety of biological activities that can be used toward improving our quality of life. These molecules possess exquisite chemical diversity and are often an inspiration for the development of new pharmaceutical agents. Research in the Winter lab is focused on 1) Elucidating the biosynthetic blueprint that nature uses for assembling secondary metabolites in bacteria and fungi, 2) Manipulating and reprograming biosynthetic systems for the generation of new compounds with enhanced bioactivity, and 3) Exploring the functional roles these molecules serve the producing organism, as well as their impact on the environment. To address these topics, we apply a multifaceted approach in our studies and implement research techniques from molecular genetics, biochemistry, chemistry, bioinformatics, structural biology and bioengineering.

Discovery and development of anti-microbial and anti-cancer agents

As secondary metabolites continue to be an inspiration for drug discovery programs, new chemical entities and molecules possessing novel modes of action are in high demand. Biological pressures can influence the chemical diversity of secondary metabolites and it has been shown that marine-derived microorganisms often produce molecules not observed in their terrestrial counterparts. These microorganisms serve as an ideal resource for drug discovery efforts and for the characterization of novel biosynthetic enzymes. We are specifically interested in marine-derived fungi that produce molecules with anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties. By identifying the corresponding biosynthetic clusters, we can 1) Interrogate the strategies that nature uses for synthesizing and installing unique functional groups responsible for the observed biological activity and 2) Use this information to incorporate new chemical features into existing molecular scaffolds and enhance their inherent biological activities.

Combinatorial biosynthesis

In their host organisms, secondary metabolites are assembled and modified by specialized machinery. Often times, the complex structures or chemical modifications instated by these molecular assembly lines are difficult to replicate using traditional synthetic methods, which pose significant challenges when developing pharmaceutical agents or derivatives for testing in biological assays. We aim to develop alternative approaches for producing these otherwise inaccessible molecules or derivatives by 1) Reprogramming the biosynthetic machinery for the production of therapeutic agents with increased biological activities and 2) Develop the individual enzymes that carry out complicated reactions into renewable and environmentally friendly biocatalysts for the chemoenzymatic synthesis or derivatization of new chemical entities.

Chemical Ecology

In addition to studying biologically active molecules, we are also interested in identifying virulence factors in fungi. Many fungi produce mycotoxins which are hazardous to human and animal health and can have devastating effects on food supplies. We are interested in 1) identifying and characterizing mycotoxin-producing clusters from fungal plant pathogens and 2) using this information for the development of antifungal and mycotoxin-detoxifying agents.

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