Professor Gary Schenk
Professor

Gary Schenk

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54144

Background

I obtained a Diploma in Chemistry from the University of Bern in Switzerland in 1992. Upon receiving the award of an International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) I joined The University of Queensland (UQ) in 1993 to carry out research towards a PhD in Biochemistry(supervisors: Assoc. Profs. Peter Nixon and Ron Duggleby). I graduated in 1997 and continued postdoctoral research at UQ under the guidance of Profs John de Jersey, Susan Hamilton and Graeme Hanson. During this period, I was awarded Fellowships from both the Wellcome Trust and UQ. In 2000 I spent several months in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, collaborating with Prof. Geoff Sykes, and later that year I commenced a Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Chemistry Department at Stanford University (advisor: Prof. Edward Solomon). In 2003 I was appointed to a Lectureship in (Bio)Physical Chemistry at UQ. In 2006 I was promoted to Senior Lecturer. Following the award of a UQ Foundation Research Excellence Award (in 2007) I was promoted to Associate Professor (in 2008), and between 2011 and 2013 I was also on a fractional professorial appointment (50%) at Maynooth University, Ireland. From 2013 to 2017 I held a Future Fellowship from the Australian Research Council, and during this period I was promoted to Full Professor at UQ (2015). I also hold affiliate professorships in the Sustainable Minerals Institute and the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, both located at UQ.

I have successfully focused my research on the investigation of enzyme-catalysed reactions, their optimisation for applications in biotechnology and the synthesis of small molecules that mimic their structure and catalytic function (i.e. biomimetics). I advanced understanding of the contribution of metals to enzyme-catalysed reactions and employed state-of-the-art technologies (e.g. cryo-EM, ancestral gene reconstruction) to develop enzyme inhibitors as leads for novel biocides (herbicides, fungicides, antibacterial compounds) and engineer enzymes with enhanced catalytic properties for industrial applications in the advanced manufacturing sector (i.e. cell-free enzyme cascades, next-gen fertilisers). My work into enzyme mechanisms, regulation and engineering received international acclaim evidenced by invitations to provide plenary and keynote lectures and review articles in prestigious journals. I have published over 250 peer-reviewed articles, including over 40 papers in the ACS staple (J. Am. Chem. Soc, ACS Catalysis, ACS Sus. Chem. Eng., Inorg. Chem, Chem. Rev., Acc. Chem. Rev.) as well as landmark studies in Nature, Nature Catalysis, Nature Communications and Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (USA). For my leadership in enzymology I was awarded a Future Fellowship by the Australian Research Council, a Foundation Research Excellence Award by UQ and, most recently, the prestigious role as Ambassador for the Technical University of Munich (TUM), an honour bestowed upon me also for my leading role in building an extensive network of collaborations between UQ and TUM in the areas of bioengineering and bioeconomy. The network has since evolved into the Global Bioeconomy Alliance.

Availability

Professor Gary Schenk is:
Available for supervision

Fields of research

Biological Sciences Chemical Sciences Engineering Inorganic chemistry Medicinal and biomolecular chemistry Reaction engineering (excl. nuclear reactions)

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Application of enzyme-driven processes in the bioeconomy

    I am interested in discovering and engineering enzymes for applications in biomanufacturing and bioremediation

Search Professor Gary Schenk’s works on UQ eSpace

266 works between 1996 and 2024
All (266) Journal Article (224) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (32) Book (1) Other Outputs (4)

1 - 20 of 266 works

2024

Journal Article

Structure-Guided Engineering Unveils Deeper Substrate Channel in Processive Endoglucanase EG5C-1 Contributing to Enhanced Catalytic Efficiency and Processivity

Wang, Jialing, Chen, Jie, Lv, Kemin, Gao, Zhen, Li, Jiahuang, Wu, Bin, He, Bingfang and Schenk, Gerhard (2024). Structure-Guided Engineering Unveils Deeper Substrate Channel in Processive Endoglucanase EG5C-1 Contributing to Enhanced Catalytic Efficiency and Processivity. ACS Synthetic Biology. doi: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00562

Structure-Guided Engineering Unveils Deeper Substrate Channel in Processive Endoglucanase EG5C-1 Contributing to Enhanced Catalytic Efficiency and Processivity

2024

Journal Article

Phage Anti-Pycsar Proteins Efficiently Degrade β-Lactam Antibiotics

Joshi, Pallav, Krco, Stefan, Davis, Samuel J., Asser, Lachlan, Brück, Thomas, Soo, Rochelle M., Bodén, Mikael, Hugenholtz, Philip, Wilson, Liam A., Schenk, Gerhard and Morris, Marc T. (2024). Phage Anti-Pycsar Proteins Efficiently Degrade β-Lactam Antibiotics. Applied Biosciences, 3 (4), 438-449. doi: 10.3390/applbiosci3040028

Phage Anti-Pycsar Proteins Efficiently Degrade β-Lactam Antibiotics

2024

Journal Article

Structural Characterization of Enzymatic Interactions with Functional Nicotinamide Cofactor Biomimetics

Rocha, Raquel A., Wilson, Liam A., Schwartz, Brett D., Warden, Andrew C., Guddat, Luke W., Speight, Robert E., Malins, Lara, Schenk, Gerhard and Scott, Colin (2024). Structural Characterization of Enzymatic Interactions with Functional Nicotinamide Cofactor Biomimetics. Catalysts, 14 (7) ARTN 399, 399. doi: 10.3390/catal14070399

Structural Characterization of Enzymatic Interactions with Functional Nicotinamide Cofactor Biomimetics

2024

Journal Article

Improving the catalytic efficiency of a GH5 processive endoglucanase by a combinatorial strategy using consensus mutagenesis and loop engineering

Lv, Kemin, Li, Xiaozhou, Chen, Kequan, Wu, Bin, He, Bingfang and Schenk, Gerhard (2024). Improving the catalytic efficiency of a GH5 processive endoglucanase by a combinatorial strategy using consensus mutagenesis and loop engineering. ACS Catalysis, 14 (9), 6856-6867. doi: 10.1021/acscatal.4c01083

Improving the catalytic efficiency of a GH5 processive endoglucanase by a combinatorial strategy using consensus mutagenesis and loop engineering

2024

Journal Article

Mapping of the reaction trajectory catalyzed by class I ketol-acid reductoisomerase

Lin, Xin, Lonhienne, Thierry, Lv, You, Kurz, Julia L., McGeary, Ross P., Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke W. (2024). Mapping of the reaction trajectory catalyzed by class I ketol-acid reductoisomerase. ACS Catalysis, 14 (9), 6827-6841. doi: 10.1021/acscatal.4c00958

Mapping of the reaction trajectory catalyzed by class I ketol-acid reductoisomerase

2024

Journal Article

Synthesis, Characterization, and Structures of Mononuclear and Phenoxo-/Acetato-Bridged Trinuclear Zinc(II) Complexes from Salan Ligands: Study of their Hydrolytic Activity

Dinda, Rupam, Mohanty, Monalisa, Wilson, Liam, Roy, Satabdi, Mohapatra, Deepika, Patra, Sushree Aradhana, Schenk, Gerhard, Pessoa, João Costa, Sasamori, Takahiro and Aurelien, Crochet (2024). Synthesis, Characterization, and Structures of Mononuclear and Phenoxo-/Acetato-Bridged Trinuclear Zinc(II) Complexes from Salan Ligands: Study of their Hydrolytic Activity. Journal of Molecular Structure, 1308 138106, 138106. doi: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2024.138106

Synthesis, Characterization, and Structures of Mononuclear and Phenoxo-/Acetato-Bridged Trinuclear Zinc(II) Complexes from Salan Ligands: Study of their Hydrolytic Activity

2024

Journal Article

Kinetic, electrochemical and spectral characterization of bacterial and archaeal rusticyanins; unexpected stability issues and consequences for applications in biotechnology

Wilson, Liam A., Melville, Jamie N., Pedroso, Marcelo M., Krco, Stefan, Hoelzl, Robert, Zaugg, Julian, Southam, Gordon, Virdis, Bernardino, Evans, Paul, Supper, Jenna, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Tyson, Gene, Clark, Alice, Schenk, Gerhard and Bernhardt, Paul V. (2024). Kinetic, electrochemical and spectral characterization of bacterial and archaeal rusticyanins; unexpected stability issues and consequences for applications in biotechnology. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 256 112539, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112539

Kinetic, electrochemical and spectral characterization of bacterial and archaeal rusticyanins; unexpected stability issues and consequences for applications in biotechnology

2024

Journal Article

Development of a highly selective NAD+‐dependent glyceraldehyde dehydrogenase and its application in minimal cell‐free enzyme cascades

Teshima, Mariko, Sutiono, Samuel, Döring, Manuel, Beer, Barbara, Boden, Mikael, Schenk, Gerhard and Sieber, Volker (2024). Development of a highly selective NAD+‐dependent glyceraldehyde dehydrogenase and its application in minimal cell‐free enzyme cascades. ChemSusChem, 17 (4) e202301132, 1-13. doi: 10.1002/cssc.202301132

Development of a highly selective NAD+‐dependent glyceraldehyde dehydrogenase and its application in minimal cell‐free enzyme cascades

2024

Journal Article

Inorganic Fe-O and Fe-S oxidoreductases: paradigms for prebiotic chemistry and the evolution of enzymatic activity in biology

Huang, Xiao-Lan, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Schenk, Gerhard and Southam, Gordon (2024). Inorganic Fe-O and Fe-S oxidoreductases: paradigms for prebiotic chemistry and the evolution of enzymatic activity in biology. Frontiers in Chemistry, 12 ARTN 1349020. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1349020

Inorganic Fe-O and Fe-S oxidoreductases: paradigms for prebiotic chemistry and the evolution of enzymatic activity in biology

2024

Journal Article

Structure-guided engineering of branched-chain α-keto acid decarboxylase for improved 1,2,4-butanetriol production by in vitro synthetic enzymatic biosystem

Lv, Kemin, Cao, Xuefei, Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Wu, Bin, Li, Jiahuang, He, Bingfang and Schenk, Gerhard (2024). Structure-guided engineering of branched-chain α-keto acid decarboxylase for improved 1,2,4-butanetriol production by in vitro synthetic enzymatic biosystem. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 255 128303, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128303

Structure-guided engineering of branched-chain α-keto acid decarboxylase for improved 1,2,4-butanetriol production by in vitro synthetic enzymatic biosystem

2024

Journal Article

Discovery and mechanistic understanding of a lipase from Rhizorhabdus dicambivorans for efficient ester aminolysis in aromatic amines

Wang, Jialing, Huang, Zhuangzhuang, Xu, Haodong, Nian, Yong, Wu, Bin, He, Bingfang and Schenk, Gerhard (2024). Discovery and mechanistic understanding of a lipase from Rhizorhabdus dicambivorans for efficient ester aminolysis in aromatic amines. ChemSusChem, 17 (9) e202301735. doi: 10.1002/cssc.202301735

Discovery and mechanistic understanding of a lipase from Rhizorhabdus dicambivorans for efficient ester aminolysis in aromatic amines

2023

Journal Article

Realising the circular phosphorus economy delivers for sustainable development goals

Walsh, Michael, Schenk, Gerhard and Schmidt, Susanne (2023). Realising the circular phosphorus economy delivers for sustainable development goals. npj Sustainable Agriculture, 1 (1) 2, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s44264-023-00002-0

Realising the circular phosphorus economy delivers for sustainable development goals

2023

Journal Article

Product Profiles of Promiscuous Enzymes Can be Altered by Controlling In Vivo Spatial Organization

Cheah, Li Chen, Liu, Lian, Plan, Manuel R., Peng, Bingyin, Lu, Zeyu, Schenk, Gerhard, Vickers, Claudia E. and Sainsbury, Frank (2023). Product Profiles of Promiscuous Enzymes Can be Altered by Controlling In Vivo Spatial Organization. Advanced Science, 10 (32) e2303415, 1-10. doi: 10.1002/advs.202303415

Product Profiles of Promiscuous Enzymes Can be Altered by Controlling In Vivo Spatial Organization

2023

Conference Publication

Structural basis of resistance to herbicides that target acetohydroxyacid synthase

Cheng, Yan, Lonhienne, Thierry, Garcia, Mario, Hu, Shu Hong, Low, Yu Shang, Schenk, Gerhard, Williams, Craig M. and Guddat, Luke W. (2023). Structural basis of resistance to herbicides that target acetohydroxyacid synthase. XXVI IUCr Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-29 August 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1107/s2053273323085571

Structural basis of resistance to herbicides that target acetohydroxyacid synthase

2023

Journal Article

Inhibitors for metallo-β-lactamases from the B1 and B3 subgroups provide an avenue to combat a major mechanism of antibiotic resistance

Kurz, Julia L., Monteiro Pedroso, Marcelo, Richard, Emmanuelle, McGeary, Ross P. and Schenk, Gerhard (2023). Inhibitors for metallo-β-lactamases from the B1 and B3 subgroups provide an avenue to combat a major mechanism of antibiotic resistance. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 92 129387, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2023.129387

Inhibitors for metallo-β-lactamases from the B1 and B3 subgroups provide an avenue to combat a major mechanism of antibiotic resistance

2023

Journal Article

Structure, function, and evolution of metallo-β-lactamases from the B3 subgroup—emerging targets to combat antibiotic resistance

Krco, Stefan, Davis, Samuel J., Joshi, Pallav, Wilson, Liam A., Monteiro Pedroso, Marcelo, Douw, Andrew, Schofield, Christopher J., Hugenholtz, Philip, Schenk, Gerhard and Morris, Marc T. (2023). Structure, function, and evolution of metallo-β-lactamases from the B3 subgroup—emerging targets to combat antibiotic resistance. Frontiers in Chemistry, 11 1196073, 1196073. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1196073

Structure, function, and evolution of metallo-β-lactamases from the B3 subgroup—emerging targets to combat antibiotic resistance

2023

Journal Article

Optimization of an α-aminonaphthylmethylphosphonic acid inhibitor of purple acid phosphatase using rational structure-based design approaches

Feder, Daniel, Mohd-Pahmi, Siti Hajar, Adibi, Hadi, Guddat, Luke W., Schenk, Gerhard, McGeary, Ross P. and Hussein, Waleed M. (2023). Optimization of an α-aminonaphthylmethylphosphonic acid inhibitor of purple acid phosphatase using rational structure-based design approaches. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 254 115383, 1-19. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115383

Optimization of an α-aminonaphthylmethylphosphonic acid inhibitor of purple acid phosphatase using rational structure-based design approaches

2023

Journal Article

Metabolic flux enhancement from the translational fusion of terpene synthases is linked to terpene synthase accumulation

Cheah, Li Chen, Liu, Lian, Stark, Terra, Plan, Manuel R., Peng, Bingyin, Lu, Zeyu, Schenk, Gerhard, Sainsbury, Frank and Vickers, Claudia E. (2023). Metabolic flux enhancement from the translational fusion of terpene synthases is linked to terpene synthase accumulation. Metabolic Engineering, 77, 143-151. doi: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.03.012

Metabolic flux enhancement from the translational fusion of terpene synthases is linked to terpene synthase accumulation

2023

Journal Article

Crystal structure of the commercial herbicide, amidosulfuron, in complex with Arabidopsis thaliana acetohydroxyacid synthase

Cheng, Yan, Lonhienne, Thierry, Garcia, Mario. D., Williams, Craig M., Schenk, Gerard and Guddat, Luke W. (2023). Crystal structure of the commercial herbicide, amidosulfuron, in complex with Arabidopsis thaliana acetohydroxyacid synthase. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 71 (13), 5117-5126. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c08528

Crystal structure of the commercial herbicide, amidosulfuron, in complex with Arabidopsis thaliana acetohydroxyacid synthase

2023

Journal Article

Gas fermentation for microbial sustainable aviation fuel production

Rodriguez, Karen, Pedroso, Marcelo, Harris, Audrey, Garg, Shivani, Hine, Damian, Köpke, Michael, Schenk, Gerhard and Marcellin, Esteban (2023). Gas fermentation for microbial sustainable aviation fuel production. Microbiology Australia, 44 (1), 31-35. doi: 10.1071/ma23008

Gas fermentation for microbial sustainable aviation fuel production

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2027
    Bio-based solutions for a sustainable agriculture
    Queensland-Germany Bioeconomy Collaborative Science Program
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Light-driven biocatalytic cell factories
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Dual-function ribonucleases: unexpected agents of antibiotic resistance
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    EnzOnomy - an enzyme-based production pipeline for the bioeconomy
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Cryo-EM inspired drug discovery to treat human fungal pathogenic infections
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2022
    Better Catalysts
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Biocatalytic nanomachines
    Technical University of Munich
    Open grant
  • 2019
    A versatile accurate mass, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer for chemistry and proteomic applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018
    Imaging in the nano-scale age: terahertz and millimetre wave microanalysis
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Ketol-acid reductoisomerase: An important antituberculosis drug target
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2018
    Centre for Geoanalytical Mass Spectrometry (CGMS) - Achieving excellence in isotope geochemistry and geochronology
    UQ Research Facilities Infrastructure Grants
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Next-generation multi-collector inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) with laser-ablation capability for in situ high-throughput and high resolution isotope dating and characterizat
    UQ Major Research Facility Fund
    Open grant
  • 2015
    A sensitive, high resolution QTOF mass spectrometer with nanoUPLC system for qualitative and quantitative biomolecule analysis.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    An integrated approach to combat antibiotic resistance
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Harnessing the potential of metals in biocatalysis (ARC Discovery Project administered by the Australian National University)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2014
    Extending frontiers of structural chemistry and biology through high resolution pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance (ARC LIEF Grant administered by the University of Melbourne)
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2017
    Metals in Biocatalysis: a Powerful Combination for the Chemistry of Life
    ARC Future Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Evolved enzymes and biomimetics for organophosphate degredation (ARC Discovery Project administered by the Australian National University)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Facilities for Integrated Bioinorganic and Materials Chemistry Research
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    National Magnetochemical Facility (ARC LIEF administered by Monash University)
    ARC LIEF Collaborating/Partner Organisation Contributions
    Open grant
  • 2010
    An integrated high -throughput fluorescence imaging facility
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    Metallo-beta-lactamases: predicting and combating antibiotic resistance.
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Metallo-beta-lactamases: designing drug leads to combat antibiotic resistance
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Organophosphate pesticide degradation: evolved enzymes and biomimetics for bioremediation and medicine (ARC Discovery Project award administered by ANU)
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Structure-based design of anti-osteoporotic drug leads: an integrated approach
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    A National Biomedical Electron Paramagnetic Resonance and Molecular Imaging Centre (ARC LIEF Administered by Monash University)
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    Isotope Effects as a Highly Sensitive Probe for the Study of Enzymatic Reaction Mechanisms
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards - DVC(R) Funding
    Open grant
  • 2007
    XAS studies of the binuclear metalloenzyme purple acid phosphatase and their biomimetic models
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2006
    Australian Synchrotron Research Program: Visit to Photon Factor Japan 27-29 October 2006 (3 days)
    Australian Synchrotron Research Program
    Open grant
  • 2006
    AUSTRALIAN SYNCHROTRON RESEARCH PROGRAM: Support for Access to the Australian National Beamline Facility, Photon Factory, Japan (12-14 May 2006)
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Directed evolution of enzymes for bioremediation: structure function studies of bimetalloenzymes
    Australian National University
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    XZS of FeIII-MeII binuclear complexes
    Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    An Integrated Approach Towards Development of Highly Specific Chemotherapeutics
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Unusual Coordination Chemistry Of Phosphate In A Novel Binuclear Metal Centre
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2003 - 2004
    A unique coordination of phosphate in binuclear metal ion complexes
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Gary Schenk is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

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