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)

101 - 120 of 269 works

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

2016

Journal Article

Product release is rate-limiting for catalytic processing by the Dengue virus protease

Shannon, A. E., Pedroso, M. M., Chappell, K. J., Watterson, D., Liebscher, S., Kok, W. M., Fairlie, D. P., Schenk, G. and Young, P. R. (2016). Product release is rate-limiting for catalytic processing by the Dengue virus protease. Scientific Reports, 6 (1) 37539, 37539. doi: 10.1038/srep37539

Product release is rate-limiting for catalytic processing by the Dengue virus protease

2016

Journal Article

New strategies to combat tuberculosis

Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke W. (2016). New strategies to combat tuberculosis. Australasian Biotechnology, 26 (3), 52-53.

New strategies to combat tuberculosis

2016

Journal Article

Metallohydrolase biomimetics with catalytic and structural flexibility

Mendes, Luisa L., Englert, Daniel, Fernandes, Christiane, Gahan, Lawrence R., Schenk, Gerhard and Horn, Adolfo Jr. (2016). Metallohydrolase biomimetics with catalytic and structural flexibility. Dalton Transactions, 45 (46), 18510-18521. doi: 10.1039/c6dt03200a

Metallohydrolase biomimetics with catalytic and structural flexibility

2016

Journal Article

Promiscuous metallo-β-lactamases: MIM-1 and MIM-2 may play an essential role in quorum sensing networks

Miraula, Manfredi, Schenk, Gerhard and Mitic, Natasa (2016). Promiscuous metallo-β-lactamases: MIM-1 and MIM-2 may play an essential role in quorum sensing networks. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 162, 366-375. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2015.12.014

Promiscuous metallo-β-lactamases: MIM-1 and MIM-2 may play an essential role in quorum sensing networks

2016

Journal Article

Preface

Gahan, Lawrence, Comba, Peter, Schenk, Gerhard, Daumann, Lena, Hambley, Trevor and Berners-Price, Sue (2016). Preface. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 162, 162-163. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.09.011

Preface

2016

Journal Article

Organophosphate-degrading metallohydrolases: structure and function of potent catalysts for applications in bioremediation

Schenk, Gerhard, Mateen, Irsa, Ng, Tee-Kheang, Pedroso, Marcelo M., Mitic, Natasa, Jafelicci, Miguel, Marques, Rodrigo F. C., Gahan, Lawrence R. and Ollis, David L. (2016). Organophosphate-degrading metallohydrolases: structure and function of potent catalysts for applications in bioremediation. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 317, 122-131. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2016.03.006

Organophosphate-degrading metallohydrolases: structure and function of potent catalysts for applications in bioremediation

2016

Journal Article

Metal ions play an essential catalytic role in the mechanism of ketol-acid reductoisomerase

Tadrowski, Sonya, Pedroso, Marcelo M., Sieber, Volker, Larrabee, James A., Guddat, Luke W. and Schenk, Gerhard (2016). Metal ions play an essential catalytic role in the mechanism of ketol-acid reductoisomerase. Chemistry, 22 (22), 7427-7436. doi: 10.1002/chem.201600620

Metal ions play an essential catalytic role in the mechanism of ketol-acid reductoisomerase

2016

Journal Article

Design, synthesis, and in vitro and biological evaluation of potent amino acid-derived thiol inhibitors of the metallo-β-lactamase IMP-1

Arjomandi, Omid Khalili, Hussein, Waleed M., Vella, Peter, Yusof, Yusralina, Sidjabat, Hanna E., Schenk, Gerhard and McGeary, Ross P. (2016). Design, synthesis, and in vitro and biological evaluation of potent amino acid-derived thiol inhibitors of the metallo-β-lactamase IMP-1. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 114, 318-327. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.03.017

Design, synthesis, and in vitro and biological evaluation of potent amino acid-derived thiol inhibitors of the metallo-β-lactamase IMP-1

2016

Journal Article

Crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase at 1.0 Å resolution: A potential target for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery

You, Lv, Kandale, Ajit, Wun, Shun Jie, McGeary, Ross P., Williams, Simon J., Kobe, Bostjan, Sieber, Volker, Schembri, Mark A., Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke W. (2016). Crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase at 1.0 Å resolution: A potential target for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery. Febs Journal, 283 (7), 1184-1196. doi: 10.1111/febs.13672

Crystal structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis ketol-acid reductoisomerase at 1.0 Å resolution: A potential target for anti-tuberculosis drug discovery

2016

Journal Article

Investigation of the identity of the nucleophile initiating the hydrolysis of phosphate esters catalyzed by dinuclear mimics of metallohydrolases

Brown, Joshua J., Gahan, Lawrence R., Schöffler, Anne, Krenske, Elizabeth H. and Schenk, Gerhard (2016). Investigation of the identity of the nucleophile initiating the hydrolysis of phosphate esters catalyzed by dinuclear mimics of metallohydrolases. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 162, 356-365. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.02.008

Investigation of the identity of the nucleophile initiating the hydrolysis of phosphate esters catalyzed by dinuclear mimics of metallohydrolases

2016

Journal Article

Captopril analogues as metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors

Yusof, Yusralina, Tan, Daniel T. C., Arjomandi, Omid Khalili, Schenk, Gerhard and McGeary, Ross P. (2016). Captopril analogues as metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 26 (6), 1589-1593. doi: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2016.02.007

Captopril analogues as metallo-β-lactamase inhibitors

2016

Journal Article

CaII binding regulates and dominates the reactivity of a transition-metal-ion-dependent diesterase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Pedroso, Marcelo M., Larrabee, James A., Ely, Fernanda, Gwee, Shuhui E., Mitic, Natasa, Ollis, David L., Gahan, Lawrence R. and Schenk, Gerhard (2016). CaII binding regulates and dominates the reactivity of a transition-metal-ion-dependent diesterase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Chemistry - A European Journal, 22 (3), 999-1009. doi: 10.1002/chem.201504001

CaII binding regulates and dominates the reactivity of a transition-metal-ion-dependent diesterase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

2016

Journal Article

Asymmetric mono- and dinuclear GaIII and ZnII complexes as models for purple acid phosphatases

Bosch, Simone, Comba, Peter, Gahan, Lawrence R. and Schenk, Gerhard (2016). Asymmetric mono- and dinuclear GaIII and ZnII complexes as models for purple acid phosphatases. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 162, 343-355. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2015.12.028

Asymmetric mono- and dinuclear GaIII and ZnII complexes as models for purple acid phosphatases

2015

Journal Article

Induction of apoptosis in leukemia cell lines by new copper(II) complexes containing naphthyl groups via interaction with death receptors

Fernandes, Christiane, Horn Jr, Adolfo, Lopes, Bruna F., Bull, Erika S., Azeredo, Nathália F., Kanashiro, Milton M., Borges, Franz V., Bortoluzzi, Adailton J., Szpoganicz, Bruno, Pires, Anderson B., Franco, Roberto W. A., de A. Almeida, João Carlos, Maciel, Leide L. F., Resende, Jackson A. L. C. and Schenk, Gerhard (2015). Induction of apoptosis in leukemia cell lines by new copper(II) complexes containing naphthyl groups via interaction with death receptors. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 153, 68-87. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2015.09.014

Induction of apoptosis in leukemia cell lines by new copper(II) complexes containing naphthyl groups via interaction with death receptors

2015

Journal Article

Heavy Water as a Probe of the Free Radical Nature and Electrical Conductivity of Melanin

Rienecker, Shermiyah B., Mostert, A. Bernardus, Schenk, Gerhard, Hanson, Graeme R. and Meredith, Paul (2015). Heavy Water as a Probe of the Free Radical Nature and Electrical Conductivity of Melanin. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 119 (48), 14994-15000. doi: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.5b08970

Heavy Water as a Probe of the Free Radical Nature and Electrical Conductivity of Melanin

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2030
    ARC Research Hub for Engineering Plants to Replace Fossil Carbon
    ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs
    Open grant
  • 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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