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)

41 - 60 of 269 works

2021

Journal Article

Triazolopyrimidine herbicides are potent inhibitors of Aspergillus fumigatus acetohydroxyacid synthase and potential antifungal drug leads

Low, Y. S., Garcia, M. D., Lonhienne, T., Fraser, J. A., Schenk, G. and Guddat, L. W. (2021). Triazolopyrimidine herbicides are potent inhibitors of Aspergillus fumigatus acetohydroxyacid synthase and potential antifungal drug leads. Scientific Reports, 11 (1) 21055. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-00349-9

Triazolopyrimidine herbicides are potent inhibitors of Aspergillus fumigatus acetohydroxyacid synthase and potential antifungal drug leads

2021

Journal Article

Sequence- and structure-guided improvement of the catalytic performance of a GH11 family xylanase from Bacillus subtilis

Wang, Lijuan, Cao, Kun, Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Wu, Bin, Gao, Zhen, He, Bingfang and Schenk, Gerhard (2021). Sequence- and structure-guided improvement of the catalytic performance of a GH11 family xylanase from Bacillus subtilis. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 297 (5) 101262, 101262. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101262

Sequence- and structure-guided improvement of the catalytic performance of a GH11 family xylanase from Bacillus subtilis

2021

Journal Article

Kinetic and structural characterization of the first B3 metallo-β-lactamase with an active site glutamic acid

Wilson, Liam A., Knaven, Esmée G., Morris, Marc T., Monteiro Pedroso, Marcelo, Schofield, Christopher J., Brück, Thomas, Boden, Mikael, Waite, David W., Hugenholtz, Philip, Guddat, Luke and Schenk, Gerhard (2021). Kinetic and structural characterization of the first B3 metallo-β-lactamase with an active site glutamic acid. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 65 (10) e00936-21, e0093621. doi: 10.1128/aac.00936-21

Kinetic and structural characterization of the first B3 metallo-β-lactamase with an active site glutamic acid

2021

Journal Article

Rational design of potent inhibitors of a metallohydrolase using a fragment-based approach

Feder, Daniel, Mohd-Pahmi, Siti H., Hussein, Waleed M., Guddat, Luke W., McGeary, Ross P. and Schenk, Gerhard (2021). Rational design of potent inhibitors of a metallohydrolase using a fragment-based approach. ChemMedChem, 16 (21) cmdc.202100486, 3342-3359. doi: 10.1002/cmdc.202100486

Rational design of potent inhibitors of a metallohydrolase using a fragment-based approach

2021

Journal Article

Land and sea: addressing the challenges facing inter-regional ecosystems in developing a sustainable bioeconomy

O'Hara, Ian M., Tanticharoen, Morakot, MacRae, Elspeth, Imbrogno, Anthony, Rossi, Teresa, Sieber, Volker, Schenk, Gerhard, Ann-Kathrin, Kaufmann, Lukic, Ivana and Satapoomin, Ukkrit (2021). Land and sea: addressing the challenges facing inter-regional ecosystems in developing a sustainable bioeconomy. EFB Bioeconomy Journal, 1 100017, 1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bioeco.2021.100017

Land and sea: addressing the challenges facing inter-regional ecosystems in developing a sustainable bioeconomy

2021

Journal Article

Metal affinity immobilization of the processive endoglucanase EG5C-1 from Bacillus subtilis on a recyclable pH-responsive polymer

Lv, Kemin, Yu, Zhimeng, Pedroso, Marcelo M., Wu, Bin, Gao, Zhen, He, Bingfang and Schenk, Gerhard (2021). Metal affinity immobilization of the processive endoglucanase EG5C-1 from Bacillus subtilis on a recyclable pH-responsive polymer. ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, 9 (23) acssuschemeng.1c02215, 7948-7959. doi: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c02215

Metal affinity immobilization of the processive endoglucanase EG5C-1 from Bacillus subtilis on a recyclable pH-responsive polymer

2021

Journal Article

Pesticide degradation by immobilised metalloenzymes provides an attractive avenue for bioremediation

Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Hine, Damian, Hahn, Sebastian, Chmielewicz, Wioleta Monika, Diegel, Janika, Gahan, Lawrence and Schenk, Gerhard (2021). Pesticide degradation by immobilised metalloenzymes provides an attractive avenue for bioremediation. EFB Bioeconomy Journal, 1 100015, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bioeco.2021.100015

Pesticide degradation by immobilised metalloenzymes provides an attractive avenue for bioremediation

2021

Journal Article

Discovery of a pyrimidine-dione derivative with potent inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase

Lin, Xin, Kurz, Julia, Patel, Khushboo, Wun, Shun Jie, Hussein, Waleed, Lonhienne, Thierry, West, Nicholas P., McGeary, Ross P., Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke William (2021). Discovery of a pyrimidine-dione derivative with potent inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase. Chemistry: A European Journal, 27 (9) chem.202004665, 3130-3141. doi: 10.1002/chem.202004665

Discovery of a pyrimidine-dione derivative with potent inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase

2021

Journal Article

Enhancing the catalytic activity of a GH5 processive endoglucanase from Bacillus subtilis BS-5 by site-directed mutagenesis

Lv, Kemin, Shao, Wenyu, Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Peng, Jiayu, Wu, Bin, Li, Jiahuang, He, Bingfang and Schenk, Gerhard (2021). Enhancing the catalytic activity of a GH5 processive endoglucanase from Bacillus subtilis BS-5 by site-directed mutagenesis. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 168, 442-452. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.12.060

Enhancing the catalytic activity of a GH5 processive endoglucanase from Bacillus subtilis BS-5 by site-directed mutagenesis

2021

Journal Article

Analogues of the herbicide, N-hydroxy-N-isopropyloxamate, inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase and their prodrugs are promising anti-TB drug leads

Kandale, Ajit, Patel, Khushboo, Hussein, Waleed M., Wun, Shun Jie, Zheng, Shan, Tan, Lendl, West, Nicholas P., Schenk, Gerhard, Guddat, Luke W. and McGeary, Ross P. (2021). Analogues of the herbicide, N-hydroxy-N-isopropyloxamate, inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase and their prodrugs are promising anti-TB drug leads. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64 (3) acs.jmedchem.0c01919, 1670-1684. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01919

Analogues of the herbicide, N-hydroxy-N-isopropyloxamate, inhibit Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase and their prodrugs are promising anti-TB drug leads

2021

Journal Article

Recent advances in heterogeneous catalytic systems containing metal ions for phosphate ester hydrolysis

Gomes, Marco Antonio G. B., Fernandes, Christiane, Gahan, Lawrence R., Schenk, Gerhard and Horn, Adolfo (2021). Recent advances in heterogeneous catalytic systems containing metal ions for phosphate ester hydrolysis. Chemistry: A European Journal, 27 (3) chem.202002333, 877-887. doi: 10.1002/chem.202002333

Recent advances in heterogeneous catalytic systems containing metal ions for phosphate ester hydrolysis

2020

Journal Article

Structure and mechanism of potent bifunctional β-lactam- and homoserine lactone-degrading enzymes from marine microorganisms

Selleck, Christopher, Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Wilson, Liam, Krco, Stefan, Knaven, Esmée Gianna, Miraula, Manfredi, Mitić, Nataša, Larrabee, James A., Brück, Thomas, Clark, Alice, Guddat, Luke W. and Schenk, Gerhard (2020). Structure and mechanism of potent bifunctional β-lactam- and homoserine lactone-degrading enzymes from marine microorganisms. Scientific Reports, 10 (1) 12882, 12882. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-68612-z

Structure and mechanism of potent bifunctional β-lactam- and homoserine lactone-degrading enzymes from marine microorganisms

2020

Journal Article

Dinuclear copper(II) complexes with derivative triazine ligands as biomimetic models for catechol oxidases and nucleases

Silva, Marcos P., Saibert, Cristine, Bortolotto, Tiago, Bortoluzzi, Adailton J., Schenk, Gerhard, Peralta, Rosely A., Terenzi, Hernán and Neves, Ademir (2020). Dinuclear copper(II) complexes with derivative triazine ligands as biomimetic models for catechol oxidases and nucleases. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 213 111249, 111249. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2020.111249

Dinuclear copper(II) complexes with derivative triazine ligands as biomimetic models for catechol oxidases and nucleases

2020

Journal Article

Inhibition studies of ketol-acid reductoisomerases from pathogenic microorganisms

Wun, Shun Jie, Johnson, Lambro A., You, Lv, McGeary, Ross P., Brueck, Thomas, Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke W. (2020). Inhibition studies of ketol-acid reductoisomerases from pathogenic microorganisms. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 692 108516, 108516. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108516

Inhibition studies of ketol-acid reductoisomerases from pathogenic microorganisms

2020

Journal Article

Towards a sustainable generation of pseudopterosin-type bioactives

Ringel, Marion, Reinbold, Markus, Hirte, Max, Haack, Martina, Huber, Claudia, Eisenreich, Wolfgang, Masri, Mahmoud A., Schenk, Gerhard, Guddat, Luke W., Loll, Bernhard, Kerr, Russell, Garbe, Daniel and Brück, Thomas (2020). Towards a sustainable generation of pseudopterosin-type bioactives. Green Chemistry, 22 (18), 6033-6046. doi: 10.1039/d0gc01697g

Towards a sustainable generation of pseudopterosin-type bioactives

2020

Journal Article

Structures of fungal and plant acetohydroxyacid synthases

Lonhienne, Thierry, Low, Yu Shang, Garcia, Mario D., Croll, Tristan, Gao, Yan, Wang, Quan, Brillault, Lou, Williams, Craig M., Fraser, James A., McGeary, Ross P., West, Nicholas P., Landsberg, Michael J., Rao, Zihe, Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke W. (2020). Structures of fungal and plant acetohydroxyacid synthases. Nature, 586 (7828), 317-321+. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-2514-3

Structures of fungal and plant acetohydroxyacid synthases

2020

Journal Article

Towards high-throughput optimization of microbial lipid production: from strain development to process monitoring

Awad, Dania, Younes, Samer, Glemser, Matthias, Wagner, Franz M., Schenk, Gerhard, Mehlmer, Norbert and Brueck, Thomas (2020). Towards high-throughput optimization of microbial lipid production: from strain development to process monitoring. Sustainable Energy and Fuels, 4 (12), 5958-5969. doi: 10.1039/d0se00540a

Towards high-throughput optimization of microbial lipid production: from strain development to process monitoring

2020

Journal Article

Broad spectrum antibiotic-degrading metallo-β-lactamases are phylogenetically diverse

Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Waite, David W., Melse, Okke, Wilson, Liam, Mitić, Nataša, McGeary, Ross P., Antes, Iris, Guddat, Luke W., Hugenholtz, Philip and Schenk, Gerhard (2020). Broad spectrum antibiotic-degrading metallo-β-lactamases are phylogenetically diverse. Protein and Cell, 11 (8), 613-617. doi: 10.1007/s13238-020-00736-4

Broad spectrum antibiotic-degrading metallo-β-lactamases are phylogenetically diverse

2020

Journal Article

Adaptation of a continuous, calorimetric kinetic assay to study the agmatinase-catalyzed hydrolytic reaction

Wilson, Liam A., Garcia, David, Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Schulz, Benjamin L., Guddat, Luke W. and Schenk, Gerhard (2020). Adaptation of a continuous, calorimetric kinetic assay to study the agmatinase-catalyzed hydrolytic reaction. Analytical Biochemistry, 595 113618, 113618. doi: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.113618

Adaptation of a continuous, calorimetric kinetic assay to study the agmatinase-catalyzed hydrolytic reaction

2020

Journal Article

Discovery, synthesis and evaluation of a novel ketol-acid reductoisomerase inhibitor

Bayaraa, Tenuun, Kurz, Julia L., Patel, Khushboo M., Hussein, Waleed M., Bilyj, Jessica K., West, Nicholas P., Schenk, Gerhard, McGeary, Ross P. and Guddat, Luke William (2020). Discovery, synthesis and evaluation of a novel ketol-acid reductoisomerase inhibitor. Chemistry - A European Journal, 26 (41), 8958-8968. doi: 10.1002/chem.202000899

Discovery, synthesis and evaluation of a novel ketol-acid reductoisomerase inhibitor

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

Enquiries

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