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- Core Technologies
Dr Kevin O'Connor BSc, PhD
Research Interests:
Our research group is interested in biocatalysis and metabolic engineering. We focus on two major areas 1) biopolymer synthesis by bacteria and 2) bacterial oxidoreductases in the transformation of aromatic and aliphatic substrates.
Biopolymer synthesis
we have seen a growing interest in the manufacturing of materials that are sustainable and biodegradable. Our research group is investigating the ability of bacteria to synthesise biodegradable polymers with biotechnological potential, namely polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Our research focuses on the conversion of waste materials to this type of biodegradable plastic using bacteria.
Biocatalysis
Biological catalysts can offer certain advantages over traditional chemical catalysts through their high regiospecificity and sterospecificity. In addition they perform catalysis under mild conditions. We are investigating the ability of enzymes as cell free crude enzyme preparations, purified enzyme preparations and whole cells expressing enzymes as biocatalysts for the synthesis of oxyfunctionalised molecules which have uses as drugs, drug synthons and fine chemicals