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

264 works between 1996 and 2024
All (264) Journal Article (222) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (32) Book (1) Other Outputs (4)

81 - 100 of 264 works

2018

Journal Article

The use of SWATH to analyse the dynamic changes of bacterial proteome of carbapanemase-producing Escherichia coli under antibiotic pressure

Sidjabat, Hanna E., Gien, Jolene, Kvaskoff, David, Ashman, Keith, Vaswani, Kanchan, Reed, Sarah, McGeary, Ross P., Paterson, David L., Bordin, Amanda and Schenk, Gerhard (2018). The use of SWATH to analyse the dynamic changes of bacterial proteome of carbapanemase-producing Escherichia coli under antibiotic pressure. Scientific Reports, 8 (1) 3871, 3871. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-21984-9

The use of SWATH to analyse the dynamic changes of bacterial proteome of carbapanemase-producing Escherichia coli under antibiotic pressure

2018

Journal Article

Copper ions and coordination complexes as novel carbapenem adjuvants

Djoko, Karrera Y., Achard, Maud E. S., Phan, Minh-Duy, Lo, Alvin W., Miraula, Manfredi, Prombhul, Sasiprapa, Hancock, Steven J., Peters, Kate M., Sidjabat, Hanna E., Harris, Patrick N., Mitić, Nataša, Walsh, Timothy R., Anderson, Gregory J., Shafer, William M., Paterson, David L., Schenk, Gerhard, McEwan, Alastair G. and Schembri, Mark A. (2018). Copper ions and coordination complexes as novel carbapenem adjuvants. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 62 (2) e02280-17. doi: 10.1128/AAC.02280-17

Copper ions and coordination complexes as novel carbapenem adjuvants

2018

Journal Article

Processivity and enzymatic mechanism of a multifunctional family 5 endoglucanase from Bacillus subtilis BS-5 with potential applications in the saccharification of cellulosic substrates

Wu, Bin, Zheng, Shan, Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Guddat, Luke W., Chang, Siyuan, He, Bingfang and Schenk, Gerhard (2018). Processivity and enzymatic mechanism of a multifunctional family 5 endoglucanase from Bacillus subtilis BS-5 with potential applications in the saccharification of cellulosic substrates. Biotechnology for Biofuels, 11 (1) 20, 1-15. doi: 10.1186/s13068-018-1022-2

Processivity and enzymatic mechanism of a multifunctional family 5 endoglucanase from Bacillus subtilis BS-5 with potential applications in the saccharification of cellulosic substrates

2017

Journal Article

Crystal structures of Staphylococcus aureus ketol-acid reductoisomerase in complex with two transition state analogs that have biocidal activity

Patel, Khushboo, Teran, David, Zheng, Shan, Kandale, Ajit, Garcia, Mario, Lv, You, Schembri, Mark A, McGeary, Ross P, Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke William (2017). Crystal structures of Staphylococcus aureus ketol-acid reductoisomerase in complex with two transition state analogs that have biocidal activity. Chemistry- A European Journal, 23 (72), 18289-18295. doi: 10.1002/chem.201704481

Crystal structures of Staphylococcus aureus ketol-acid reductoisomerase in complex with two transition state analogs that have biocidal activity

2017

Journal Article

Second-Sphere Effects in Dinuclear FeIIIZnII Hydrolase Biomimetics: Tuning Binding and Reactivity Properties

Camargo, Tiago Pacheco, Neves, Ademir, Peralta, Rosely A., Chaves, Cláudia, Maia, Elene C. P., Lizarazo-Jaimes, Edgar H., Gomes, Dawidson A., Bortolotto, Tiago, Norberto, Douglas R., Terenzi, Hernán, Tierney, David L. and Schenk, Gerhard (2017). Second-Sphere Effects in Dinuclear FeIIIZnII Hydrolase Biomimetics: Tuning Binding and Reactivity Properties. Inorganic Chemistry, 57 (1), 187-203. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.7b02384

Second-Sphere Effects in Dinuclear FeIIIZnII Hydrolase Biomimetics: Tuning Binding and Reactivity Properties

2017

Journal Article

Deacidification of grass silage press juice by continuous production of acetoin from its lactate via an immobilized enzymatic reaction cascade

Hohagen, Hendrik, Schwarz, Dominik, Schenk, Gerhard, Guddat, Luke W., Schieder, Doris, Carsten, Jörg and Sieber, Volker (2017). Deacidification of grass silage press juice by continuous production of acetoin from its lactate via an immobilized enzymatic reaction cascade. Bioresource Technology, 245 (Pt A), 1084-1092. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.08.203

Deacidification of grass silage press juice by continuous production of acetoin from its lactate via an immobilized enzymatic reaction cascade

2017

Journal Article

Characterization of a highly efficient antibiotic-degrading metallo-β-lactamase obtained from an uncultured member of a permafrost community

Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Selleck, Christopher, Enculescu, Charmaine, Harmer, Jeffrey R., Mitic, Natasa, Craig, Whitney R., Helweh, Waleed, Hugenholtz, Philip, Tyson, Gene W., Tierney, David L., Larrabee, James A. and Schenk, Gerhard (2017). Characterization of a highly efficient antibiotic-degrading metallo-β-lactamase obtained from an uncultured member of a permafrost community. Metallomics, 9 (8), 1157-1168. doi: 10.1039/c7mt00195a

Characterization of a highly efficient antibiotic-degrading metallo-β-lactamase obtained from an uncultured member of a permafrost community

2017

Journal Article

Mechanistic insight from calorimetric measurements of the assembly of the binuclear metal active site of glycerophosphodiesterase (GpdQ) from Enterobacter aerogenes

Pedroso, Marcelo M., Ely, Fernanda, Carpenter, Margaret C., Mitic, Natasa, Gahan, Lawrence R., Ollis, David L., Wilcox, Dean E. and Schenk, Gerhard (2017). Mechanistic insight from calorimetric measurements of the assembly of the binuclear metal active site of glycerophosphodiesterase (GpdQ) from Enterobacter aerogenes. Biochemistry, 56 (26), 3328-3336. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b01200

Mechanistic insight from calorimetric measurements of the assembly of the binuclear metal active site of glycerophosphodiesterase (GpdQ) from Enterobacter aerogenes

2017

Journal Article

High resolution crystal structure of a fluoride-inhibited organophosphate-degrading metallohydrolase

Selleck, Christopher , Guddat, Luke W., Ollis, David L., Schenk, Gerhard and Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro (2017). High resolution crystal structure of a fluoride-inhibited organophosphate-degrading metallohydrolase. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 177, 287-290. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2017.06.013

High resolution crystal structure of a fluoride-inhibited organophosphate-degrading metallohydrolase

2017

Journal Article

Structure-activity relationship study and optimisation of 2-aminopyrrole-1-benzyl-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile as a broad spectrum metallo-β-lactamase inhibitor

McGeary, Ross P., Tan, Daniel T. C., Selleck, Christopher, Monteiro Pedroso, Marcelo, Sidjabat, Hanna E. and Schenk, Gerhard (2017). Structure-activity relationship study and optimisation of 2-aminopyrrole-1-benzyl-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile as a broad spectrum metallo-β-lactamase inhibitor. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 137, 351-364. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.05.061

Structure-activity relationship study and optimisation of 2-aminopyrrole-1-benzyl-4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile as a broad spectrum metallo-β-lactamase inhibitor

2017

Journal Article

Reaction mechanism of the metallohydrolase CpsB from Streptococcus pneumoniae, a promising target for novel antimicrobial agents

Monteiro Pedroso, Marcelo, Selleck, Christopher, Bilyj, Jessica, Harmer, Jeffrey R. , Gahan, Lawrence R. , Mitić, Natasa, Standish, Alistair J. , Tierney, David L. , Larrabee, James A. and Schenk, Gerhard (2017). Reaction mechanism of the metallohydrolase CpsB from Streptococcus pneumoniae, a promising target for novel antimicrobial agents. Dalton Transactions, 46 (39), 13194-13201. doi: 10.1039/c7dt01350g

Reaction mechanism of the metallohydrolase CpsB from Streptococcus pneumoniae, a promising target for novel antimicrobial agents

2017

Journal Article

Progress toward inhibitors of metallo-β-lactamases

McGeary, Ross P., Tan, Daniel T. C. and Schenk, Gerhard (2017). Progress toward inhibitors of metallo-β-lactamases. Future Medicinal Chemistry, 9 (7), 673-691. doi: 10.4155/fmc-2017-0007

Progress toward inhibitors of metallo-β-lactamases

2017

Journal Article

Is CuII coordinated to patellamides inside Prochloron cells?

Comba, Peter, Eisenschmidt, Annika, Gahan, Lawrence R., Herten, Dirk-Peter , Nette, Geoffrey, Schenk, Gerhard and Seefeld, Martin (2017). Is CuII coordinated to patellamides inside Prochloron cells?. Chemistry - A European Journal, 23 (50), 12264-12274. doi: 10.1002/chem.201700895

Is CuII coordinated to patellamides inside Prochloron cells?

2017

Journal Article

Visualization of the reaction trajectory and transition state in a hydrolytic reaction catalyzed by a metalloenzyme

Selleck, Christopher, Clayton, Daniel, Gahan, Lawrence R., Mitic, Nataša, McGeary, Ross P., Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Guddat, Luke W. and Schenk, Gerhard (2017). Visualization of the reaction trajectory and transition state in a hydrolytic reaction catalyzed by a metalloenzyme. Chemistry: A European Journal, 23 (20), 4778-4781. doi: 10.1002/chem.201700866

Visualization of the reaction trajectory and transition state in a hydrolytic reaction catalyzed by a metalloenzyme

2017

Journal Article

Enhancement of antibiotic-activity through complexation with metal ions - Combined ITC, NMR, enzymatic and biological studies

Möhler, Jasper S., Kolmar, Theresa, Synnatschke, Kevin, Hergert, Marcel, Wilson, Liam A., Ramu, Soumya, Elliott, Alysha G., Blaskovich, Mark A.T., Sidjabat, Hanna E., Paterson, David L., Schenk, Gerhard, Cooper, Matthew A. and Ziora, Zyta M. (2017). Enhancement of antibiotic-activity through complexation with metal ions - Combined ITC, NMR, enzymatic and biological studies. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 167, 134-141. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.11.028

Enhancement of antibiotic-activity through complexation with metal ions - Combined ITC, NMR, enzymatic and biological studies

2017

Journal Article

Insights into an evolutionary strategy leading to antibiotic resistance

Hou, Chun-Feng D., Liu, Jian-wei, Collyer, Charles, Mitić, Natasha, Pedroso, Marcelo Monteiro, Schenk, Gerhard and Ollis, David L. (2017). Insights into an evolutionary strategy leading to antibiotic resistance. Scientific Reports, 7 (1) 40357, 40357.1-40357.13. doi: 10.1038/srep40357

Insights into an evolutionary strategy leading to antibiotic resistance

2017

Journal Article

Mammalian agmatinases constitute unusual members in the family of Mn2+-dependent ureahydrolases

Romero, Nicol, Benitez, José, Garcia, David, Gonzalez, Arlette, Bennun, Leonardo, Garcia-Robles, María A., Lopez, Vasthi, Wilson, Liam A., Schenk, Gerhard, Carvajal, Nelson and Uribe, Elena (2017). Mammalian agmatinases constitute unusual members in the family of Mn2+-dependent ureahydrolases. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 166, 122-125. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.11.015

Mammalian agmatinases constitute unusual members in the family of Mn2+-dependent ureahydrolases

2017

Conference Publication

Ketol-acid-reductoisomerase, an emerging target for herbicides and novel antimicrobial agents

Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke W. (2017). Ketol-acid-reductoisomerase, an emerging target for herbicides and novel antimicrobial agents. 18th International Conference on Biological Inorganic Chemistry (ICBIC), Florianopolis Brazil, 31 July - 4 August 2017. New York, NY United States: Springer.

Ketol-acid-reductoisomerase, an emerging target for herbicides and novel antimicrobial agents

2017

Conference Publication

Polymorphisms in Gabra and Rgs Genes Are Associated with Alcoholism and a Secondary Diagnosis of Liver Cirrhosis: Results Are Sex-Linked

Enculescu, C. V., Ho, A. M. C., Rueda, A. V., Fortes, M. R. S., Shamsollahi, G., James, D. P., Schenk, G., Camarini, R., Dodd, P. R. and Stadlin, A. (2017). Polymorphisms in Gabra and Rgs Genes Are Associated with Alcoholism and a Secondary Diagnosis of Liver Cirrhosis: Results Are Sex-Linked. 40th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research-Society-on-Alcoholism (RSA), Denver CO, United States, 24-28 June 2017. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley.

Polymorphisms in Gabra and Rgs Genes Are Associated with Alcoholism and a Secondary Diagnosis of Liver Cirrhosis: Results Are Sex-Linked

2016

Journal Article

AIM-1: an antibiotic-degrading metallohydrolase that displays mechanistic flexibility

Selleck, Christopher, Larrabee James A., Harmer, Jeffrey, Guddat, Luke W., Mitić, Natasa, Helweh, Waleed, Ollis, David L., Craig, Whitney R., Tierney, David L., Monteiro Pedroso, Marcelo and Schenk, Gerhard (2016). AIM-1: an antibiotic-degrading metallohydrolase that displays mechanistic flexibility. Chemistry, 22 (49), 17704-17714. doi: 10.1002/chem.201602762

AIM-1: an antibiotic-degrading metallohydrolase that displays mechanistic flexibility

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 - 2024
    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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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

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