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

269 works between 1996 and 2025
All (269) Journal Article (225) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (32) Book (1) Other Outputs (6)

21 - 40 of 269 works

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

2023

Journal Article

Elucidating the roles of distinct chemical factors in the hydrolytic activities of hetero- and homonuclear synthetic analogues of binuclear metalloenzymes

Jayasinghe-Arachchige, Vindi M., Serafim, Leonardo F., Hu, Qiaoyu, Ozen, Cihan, Moorkkannur, Sreerag N., Schenk, Gerhard and Prabhakar, Rajeev (2023). Elucidating the roles of distinct chemical factors in the hydrolytic activities of hetero- and homonuclear synthetic analogues of binuclear metalloenzymes. ACS Catalysis, 13 (5), 3131-3147. doi: 10.1021/acscatal.2c05758

Elucidating the roles of distinct chemical factors in the hydrolytic activities of hetero- and homonuclear synthetic analogues of binuclear metalloenzymes

2023

Journal Article

Structural and functional insight into the mechanism of the Fe‐S cluster‐dependent dehydratase from Paralcaligenes ureilyticus

Bayaraa, Tenuun, Lonhienne, Thierry, Sutiono, Samuel, Melse, Okke, Brück, Thomas B., Marcellin, Esteban, Bernhardt, Paul V., Boden, Mikael, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Sieber, Volker, Guddat, Luke W. and Schenk, Gerhard (2023). Structural and functional insight into the mechanism of the Fe‐S cluster‐dependent dehydratase from Paralcaligenes ureilyticus. Chemistry: A European Journal, 29 (9) e202203140, 1-13. doi: 10.1002/chem.202203140

Structural and functional insight into the mechanism of the Fe‐S cluster‐dependent dehydratase from Paralcaligenes ureilyticus

2023

Journal Article

Synthesis, characterization and computational investigation of the phosphatase activity of a dinuclear Zinc(II) complex containing a new heptadentate asymmetric ligand

Costa, Luel M.O., Reis, Iago S., Fernandes, Christiane, Marques, Marcelo M., Resende, Jackson A.L.C., Krenske, Elizabeth H., Schenk, Gerhard, Gahan, Lawrence R. and Horn, Adolfo (2023). Synthesis, characterization and computational investigation of the phosphatase activity of a dinuclear Zinc(II) complex containing a new heptadentate asymmetric ligand. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 239 112064, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2022.112064

Synthesis, characterization and computational investigation of the phosphatase activity of a dinuclear Zinc(II) complex containing a new heptadentate asymmetric ligand

2023

Journal Article

Biomimetics for purple acid phosphatases: a historical perspective

Wilson, Liam A., Pedroso, Marcelo M., Peralta, Rosely A., Gahan, Lawrence R. and Schenk, Gerhard (2023). Biomimetics for purple acid phosphatases: a historical perspective. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 238 112061, 112061. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2022.112061

Biomimetics for purple acid phosphatases: a historical perspective

2022

Journal Article

Structural basis of resistance to herbicides that target acetohydroxyacid synthase

Lonhienne, Thierry, Cheng, Yan, Garcia, Mario D., Hu, Shu Hong, Low, Yu Shang, Schenk, Gerhard, Williams, Craig M. and Guddat, Luke W. (2022). Structural basis of resistance to herbicides that target acetohydroxyacid synthase. Nature Communications, 13 (1) 3368, 3368. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-31023-x

Structural basis of resistance to herbicides that target acetohydroxyacid synthase

2022

Journal Article

Molecular characterization of cyanobacterial short‐chain prenyltransferases and discovery of a novel GGPP phosphatase

Satta, Alessandro, Esquirol, Lygie, Ebert, Birgitta E., Newman, Janet, Peat, Thomas S., Plan, Manuel, Schenk, Gerhard and Vickers, Claudia E. (2022). Molecular characterization of cyanobacterial short‐chain prenyltransferases and discovery of a novel GGPP phosphatase. The FEBS Journal, 289 (21), 6672-6693. doi: 10.1111/febs.16556

Molecular characterization of cyanobacterial short‐chain prenyltransferases and discovery of a novel GGPP phosphatase

2022

Journal Article

Synthetic in vivo compartmentalisation improves metabolic flux and modulates the product profile of promiscuous enzymes

Cheah, L. C., Liu, L., Plan, M. R., Peng, B., Lu, Z., Schenk, G., Vickers, C. E. and Sainsbury, F. (2022). Synthetic in vivo compartmentalisation improves metabolic flux and modulates the product profile of promiscuous enzymes. BioRxiv. doi: 10.1101/2022.11.24.517869

Synthetic in vivo compartmentalisation improves metabolic flux and modulates the product profile of promiscuous enzymes

2022

Journal Article

Engineering indel and substitution variants of diverse and ancient enzymes using Graphical Representation of Ancestral Sequence Predictions (GRASP)

Foley, Gabriel, Mora, Ariane, Ross, Connie M., Bottoms, Scott, Sützl, Leander, Lamprecht, Marnie L., Zaugg, Julian, Essebier, Alexandra, Balderson, Brad, Newell, Rhys, Thomson, Raine E. S., Kobe, Bostjan, Barnard, Ross T., Guddat, Luke, Schenk, Gerhard, Carsten, Jörg, Gumulya, Yosephine, Rost, Burkhard, Haltrich, Dietmar, Sieber, Volker, Gillam, Elizabeth M. J. and Bodén, Mikael (2022). Engineering indel and substitution variants of diverse and ancient enzymes using Graphical Representation of Ancestral Sequence Predictions (GRASP). PL o S Computational Biology, 18 (10) e1010633, e1010633. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010633

Engineering indel and substitution variants of diverse and ancient enzymes using Graphical Representation of Ancestral Sequence Predictions (GRASP)

2022

Journal Article

Enhancing the Thermal and Kinetic Stability of Ketol-Acid Reductoisomerase, a Central Catalyst of a Cell-Free Enzyme Cascade for the Manufacture of Platform Chemicals

Lv, You, Zheng, Shan, Goldenzweig, Adi, Liu, Fengjiang, Gao, Yan, Yang, Xiuna, Kandale, Ajit, McGeary, Ross P., Williams, Simon, Kobe, Bostjan, Schembri, Mark A., Landsberg, Michael J., Wu, Bin, Brück, Thomas B., Sieber, Volker, Boden, Mikael, Rao, Zihe, Fleishman, Sarel J., Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke W. (2022). Enhancing the Thermal and Kinetic Stability of Ketol-Acid Reductoisomerase, a Central Catalyst of a Cell-Free Enzyme Cascade for the Manufacture of Platform Chemicals. Applied Biosciences, 1 (2), 163-178. doi: 10.3390/applbiosci1020011

Enhancing the Thermal and Kinetic Stability of Ketol-Acid Reductoisomerase, a Central Catalyst of a Cell-Free Enzyme Cascade for the Manufacture of Platform Chemicals

2022

Journal Article

Metabolomics of non-saccharomyces yeasts in fermented beverages

Ellis, Daniel J., Kerr, Edward D., Schenk, Gerhard and Schulz, Benjamin L. (2022). Metabolomics of non-saccharomyces yeasts in fermented beverages. Beverages, 8 (3) 41, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/beverages8030041

Metabolomics of non-saccharomyces yeasts in fermented beverages

2022

Journal Article

Genome-guided analysis of seven weed species reveals conserved sequence and structural features of key gene targets for herbicide development

Shah, Sarah, Lonhienne, Thierry, Murray, Cody-Ellen, Chen, Yibi, Dougan, Katherine E., Low, Yu Shang, Williams, Craig M., Schenk, Gerhard, Walter, Gimme H., Guddat, Luke W. and Chan, Cheong Xin (2022). Genome-guided analysis of seven weed species reveals conserved sequence and structural features of key gene targets for herbicide development. Frontiers in Plant Science, 13 909073. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.909073

Genome-guided analysis of seven weed species reveals conserved sequence and structural features of key gene targets for herbicide development

2022

Journal Article

Dihydroxy‐acid dehydratases from pathogenic bacteria: emerging drug targets to combat antibiotic resistance

Bayaraa, Tenuun, Gaete, Jose, Sutiono, Samuel, Kurz, Julia, Lonhienne, Thierry, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Bernhardt, Paul V., Sieber, Volker, Guddat, Luke and Schenk, Gerhard (2022). Dihydroxy‐acid dehydratases from pathogenic bacteria: emerging drug targets to combat antibiotic resistance. Chemistry: A European Journal, 28 (44) e202200927, 1-14. doi: 10.1002/chem.202200927

Dihydroxy‐acid dehydratases from pathogenic bacteria: emerging drug targets to combat antibiotic resistance

2022

Other Outputs

Genomic resources of seven Australian weed species of national significance

Shah, Sarah, Lonhienne, Thierry, Murray, Cody-Ellen, Chen, Yibi, Dougan, Katherine E., Low, Yu Shang, Williams, Craig M., Schenk, Gerhard, Walter, Gimme H., Guddat, Luke W. and Chan, Cheong Xin (2022). Genomic resources of seven Australian weed species of national significance. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/c22c10c

Genomic resources of seven Australian weed species of national significance

2022

Journal Article

Efficient green light acclimation of the green algae Picochlorum sp. triggering geranylgeranylated chlorophylls

Paper, Michael, Glemser, Matthias, Haack, Martina, Lorenzen, Jan, Mehlmer, Norbert, Fuchs, Tobias, Schenk, Gerhard, Garbe, Daniel, Weuster-Botz, Dirk, Eisenreich, Wolfgang, Lakatos, Michael and Brueck, Thomas B. (2022). Efficient green light acclimation of the green algae Picochlorum sp. triggering geranylgeranylated chlorophylls. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10 885977. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.885977

Efficient green light acclimation of the green algae Picochlorum sp. triggering geranylgeranylated chlorophylls

2022

Journal Article

Biotechnological potential and initial characterization of two novel sesquiterpene synthases from Basidiomycota Coniophora puteana for heterologous production of δ-cadinol

Ringel, Marion, Dimos, Nicole, Himpich, Stephanie, Haack, Martina, Huber, Claudia, Eisenreich, Wolfgang, Schenk, Gerhard, Loll, Bernhard and Brück, Thomas (2022). Biotechnological potential and initial characterization of two novel sesquiterpene synthases from Basidiomycota Coniophora puteana for heterologous production of δ-cadinol. Microbial Cell Factories, 21 (1) 64, 64. doi: 10.1186/s12934-022-01791-8

Biotechnological potential and initial characterization of two novel sesquiterpene synthases from Basidiomycota Coniophora puteana for heterologous production of δ-cadinol

2022

Journal Article

Structure‐guided modulation of the catalytic properties of [2Fe‐2S]‐dependent dehydratases

Melse, Okke, Sutiono, Samuel, Haslbeck, Magdalena, Schenk, Gerhard, Antes, Iris and Sieber, Volker (2022). Structure‐guided modulation of the catalytic properties of [2Fe‐2S]‐dependent dehydratases. ChemBioChem, 23 (10) e202200088, e202200088. doi: 10.1002/cbic.202200088

Structure‐guided modulation of the catalytic properties of [2Fe‐2S]‐dependent dehydratases

2022

Other Outputs

SR-SIM raw data - GFP and mRuby3 co-encapsulation

Cheah, Li Chen, Vickers, Claudia, Sainsbury, Frank, Cheah, Li Chen, Sainsbury, Frank, Schenk, Gary and Vickers, Claudia (2022). SR-SIM raw data - GFP and mRuby3 co-encapsulation. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/cf92aa5

SR-SIM raw data - GFP and mRuby3 co-encapsulation

2022

Other Outputs

Synthetic in vivo compartmentalisation improves metabolic flux and modulates the product profile of promiscuous enzymes

Cheah, Li Chen, Vickers, Claudia, Sainsbury, Frank, Cheah, Li Chen, Sainsbury, Frank, Schenk, Gary and Vickers, Claudia (2022). Synthetic in vivo compartmentalisation improves metabolic flux and modulates the product profile of promiscuous enzymes. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/eab4972

Synthetic in vivo compartmentalisation improves metabolic flux and modulates the product profile of promiscuous enzymes

2022

Journal Article

LAM-1 from Lysobacter antibioticus: a potent zinc-dependent activity that inactivates β-lactam antibiotics

Stroek, Rozanne, Wilson, Liam, Goracke, William, Kang, Taeuk, Vermue, Febe, Krco, Stefan, Mendels, Yonatan, Douw, Andrew, Morris, Marc, Knaven, Esmee G., Mitić, Nataša, Gutierrez, Maria C.R., Schenk, Elaine B., Clark, Alice, Garcia, David, Monteiro Pedroso, Marcelo and Schenk, Gerhard (2022). LAM-1 from Lysobacter antibioticus: a potent zinc-dependent activity that inactivates β-lactam antibiotics. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 226 111637, 1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2021.111637

LAM-1 from Lysobacter antibioticus: a potent zinc-dependent activity that inactivates β-lactam antibiotics

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    Learning from the past to design drugs for the future
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Bio-based solutions for a sustainable agriculture
    Queensland-Germany Bioeconomy Collaborative Science Program
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Dual-function ribonucleases: unexpected agents of antibiotic resistance
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Cryo-EM inspired drug discovery to treat human fungal pathogenic infections
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    Light-driven biocatalytic cell factories
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    EnzOnomy - an enzyme-based production pipeline for the bioeconomy
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 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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