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)

121 - 140 of 269 works

2015

Journal Article

Selective coordination of gallium(III), zinc(II), and copper(II) by an asymmetric dinucleating ligand: a model for metallophosphatases

Bosch, Simone, Comba, Peter, Gahan, Lawrence R., Hanson, Graeme R., Noble, Christopher, Schenk, Gerhard and Wadepohl, Hubert (2015). Selective coordination of gallium(III), zinc(II), and copper(II) by an asymmetric dinucleating ligand: a model for metallophosphatases. Chemistry - A European Journal, 21 (50), 18269-18279. doi: 10.1002/chem.201503348

Selective coordination of gallium(III), zinc(II), and copper(II) by an asymmetric dinucleating ligand: a model for metallophosphatases

2015

Journal Article

Use of magnetic circular dichroism to study dinuclear metallohydrolases and the corresponding biomimetics

Larrabee, James A., Schenk, Gerhard, Mitic, Natasa and Riley, Mark J. (2015). Use of magnetic circular dichroism to study dinuclear metallohydrolases and the corresponding biomimetics. European Biophysics Journal, 44 (6), 393-415. doi: 10.1007/s00249-015-1053-6

Use of magnetic circular dichroism to study dinuclear metallohydrolases and the corresponding biomimetics

2015

Journal Article

An approach to more accurate model systems for purple acid phosphatases (PAPs)

Bernhardt, Paul V., Bosch, Simone, Comba, Peter, Gahan, Lawrence R., Hanson, Graeme R., Mereacre, Valeriu, Noble, Christopher J., Powell, Annie K., Schenk, Gerhard and Wadepohl, Hubert (2015). An approach to more accurate model systems for purple acid phosphatases (PAPs). Inorganic Chemistry, 54 (15), 7249-7263. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b00628

An approach to more accurate model systems for purple acid phosphatases (PAPs)

2015

Journal Article

A Heterodinuclear Fe<sup>III</sup>Zn<sup>II</sup> Complex as a Mimic for Purple Acid Phosphatase with Site-Specific Zn<sup>II</sup> Binding

Roberts, Asha E, Schenk, Gerhard and Gahan, Lawrence R (2015). A Heterodinuclear FeIIIZnII Complex as a Mimic for Purple Acid Phosphatase with Site-Specific ZnII Binding. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2015 (19), 3076-3086. doi: 10.1002/ejic.201500351

A Heterodinuclear Fe<sup>III</sup>Zn<sup>II</sup> Complex as a Mimic for Purple Acid Phosphatase with Site-Specific Zn<sup>II</sup> Binding

2015

Journal Article

Altering the substrate specificity of methyl parathion hydrolase with directed evolution

Ng, Tee-Kheang, Gahan, Lawrence R., Schenk, Gerhard and Ollis, David L. (2015). Altering the substrate specificity of methyl parathion hydrolase with directed evolution. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 573, 59-68. doi: 10.1016/j.abb.2015.03.012.

Altering the substrate specificity of methyl parathion hydrolase with directed evolution

2015

Journal Article

Insight on the interaction of an agmatinase-like protein with Mn(2 +) activator ions

Quiñones, Matías, Cofre, Jaime, Benítez, José, García, David, Romero, Nicol, González, Arlette, Carvajal, Nelson, García, María, López, Vasthi, Schenk, Gerhard and Uribe, Elena (2015). Insight on the interaction of an agmatinase-like protein with Mn(2 +) activator ions. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 145, 65-69. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2015.01.008

Insight on the interaction of an agmatinase-like protein with Mn(2 +) activator ions

2015

Journal Article

Inteins—A focus on the biotechnological applications of splicing-promoting proteins

Miraula, Manfredi, Enculescu, Charmaine, Schenk, Gerhard and Mitić, Nataša (2015). Inteins—A focus on the biotechnological applications of splicing-promoting proteins. American Journal of Molecular Biology, 05 (02), 42-56. doi: 10.4236/ajmb.2015.52005

Inteins—A focus on the biotechnological applications of splicing-promoting proteins

2015

Journal Article

β-Lactam antibiotic-degrading enzymes from non-pathogenic marine organisms: a potential threat to human health

Miraula, Manfredi, Whitaker, Jacob J, Schenk, Gerhard and Mitic, Natasa (2015). β-Lactam antibiotic-degrading enzymes from non-pathogenic marine organisms: a potential threat to human health. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 20 (4), 639-651. doi: 10.1007/s00775-015-1250-x

β-Lactam antibiotic-degrading enzymes from non-pathogenic marine organisms: a potential threat to human health

2015

Journal Article

Iron, copper and manganese complexes with in vitro superoxide dismutase and/or catalase activities that keep Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells alive under severe oxidative stress

Ribeiro, Thales P., Fernandes, Christiane, Melo, Karen V., Ferreira, Sarah S., Lessa, Josane A., Franco, Roberto W A., Schenk, Gerhard, Pereira, Marcos D. and Horn, Adolfo (2015). Iron, copper and manganese complexes with in vitro superoxide dismutase and/or catalase activities that keep Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells alive under severe oxidative stress. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 80, 67-76. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2014.12.005

Iron, copper and manganese complexes with in vitro superoxide dismutase and/or catalase activities that keep Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells alive under severe oxidative stress

2014

Journal Article

A GTPase chimera illustrates an uncoupled nucleotide affinity and release rate, providing insight into the activation mechanism

Guilfoyle, Amy P., Deshpande, Chandrika N., Font Sadurni, Josep, Ash, Miriam-Rose, Tourle, Samuel, Schenk, Gerhard, Maher, Megan J. and Jormakka, Mika (2014). A GTPase chimera illustrates an uncoupled nucleotide affinity and release rate, providing insight into the activation mechanism. Biophysical Journal, 107 (12), L45-L48. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2014.10.064

A GTPase chimera illustrates an uncoupled nucleotide affinity and release rate, providing insight into the activation mechanism

2014

Journal Article

Exploring the correlation between the sequence composition of the nucleotide binding G5 loop of the FeoB GTPase domain (NFeoB) and intrinsic rate of GDP release

Guilfoyle, Amy P., Deshpande, Chandrika N., Schenk, Gerhard, Maher, Megan J. and Jormakka, Mika (2014). Exploring the correlation between the sequence composition of the nucleotide binding G5 loop of the FeoB GTPase domain (NFeoB) and intrinsic rate of GDP release. Bioscience Reports, 34 (6) e00158, 789-796. doi: 10.1042/BSR20140152

Exploring the correlation between the sequence composition of the nucleotide binding G5 loop of the FeoB GTPase domain (NFeoB) and intrinsic rate of GDP release

2014

Journal Article

X-ray absorption spectroscopy of dinuclear metallohydrolases

Tierney, David L. and Schenk, Gerhard (2014). X-ray absorption spectroscopy of dinuclear metallohydrolases. Biophysical Journal, 107 (6), 1263-1272. doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2014.07.066

X-ray absorption spectroscopy of dinuclear metallohydrolases

2014

Journal Article

Dinuclear zinc(II) complexes with hydrogen bond donors as structural and functional phosphatase models

Bosch, Simone, Comba, Peter, Gahan, Lawrence R. and Schenk, Gerhard (2014). Dinuclear zinc(II) complexes with hydrogen bond donors as structural and functional phosphatase models. Inorganic Chemistry, 53 (17), 9036-9051. doi: 10.1021/ic5009945

Dinuclear zinc(II) complexes with hydrogen bond donors as structural and functional phosphatase models

2014

Journal Article

Comparative investigation of the reaction mechanisms of the organophosphate-degrading phosphotriesterases from Agrobacterium radiobacter (OpdA) and Pseudomonas diminuta (OPH).

Pedroso, Marcelo M., Ely, Fernanda, Mitic, Natasa, Carpenter, Margaret C., Gahan, Lawrence R., Wilcox, Dean E., Larrabee, James L., Ollis, David L. and Schenk, Gerhard (2014). Comparative investigation of the reaction mechanisms of the organophosphate-degrading phosphotriesterases from Agrobacterium radiobacter (OpdA) and Pseudomonas diminuta (OPH).. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 19 (8), 1263-1275. doi: 10.1007/s00775-014-1183-9

Comparative investigation of the reaction mechanisms of the organophosphate-degrading phosphotriesterases from Agrobacterium radiobacter (OpdA) and Pseudomonas diminuta (OPH).

2014

Journal Article

Metallo-β-lactamases: a major threat to human health

Phelan, Emer K., Miraula, Manfred, Selleck, Christopher, Ollis, David L., Schenk, Gerhard and Mitic, Natasa (2014). Metallo-β-lactamases: a major threat to human health. American Journal of Molecular Biology, 4 (3), 89-104. doi: 10.4236/ajmb.2014.43011

Metallo-β-lactamases: a major threat to human health

2014

Journal Article

Metallo-beta-lactamases and their biomimetic complexes

Daumann, Lena J., Schenk, Gerhard and Gahan, Lawrence R. (2014). Metallo-beta-lactamases and their biomimetic complexes. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2014 (18), 2869-2885. doi: 10.1002/ejic.201402203

Metallo-beta-lactamases and their biomimetic complexes

2014

Journal Article

Synthesis, characterization, antibacterial and antitumoral activities of mononuclear zinc complexes containing tridentate amine based ligands with N3 or N2O donor groups

Fernandes, Christiane, Horn, Adolfo, Vieira-Da-Motta, Olney, Kanashiro, Milton M., Rocha, Michelle R., Moreira, Rafaela O., Morcelli, Samila R., Lopes, Bruna F., Mathias, Luciana da S., Borges, Franz V., Borges, Layla J. H., Freitas, William R., Visentin, Lorenzo C., Almeida, Joao C. de A. and Schenk, Gerhard (2014). Synthesis, characterization, antibacterial and antitumoral activities of mononuclear zinc complexes containing tridentate amine based ligands with N3 or N2O donor groups. Inorganica Chimica Acta, 416, 35-48. doi: 10.1016/j.ica.2014.02.040

Synthesis, characterization, antibacterial and antitumoral activities of mononuclear zinc complexes containing tridentate amine based ligands with N3 or N2O donor groups

2014

Journal Article

Structural and functional analysis of a FeoB A143S G5 loop mutant explains the accelerated GDP release rate

Guilfoyle, Amy P., Deshpande, Chandrika N., Vincent, Kimberley, Pedroso, Marcelo M., Schenk, Gerhard, Maher, Megan J. and Jormakka, Mika (2014). Structural and functional analysis of a FeoB A143S G5 loop mutant explains the accelerated GDP release rate. FEBS Journal, 281 (9), 2254-2265. doi: 10.1111/febs.12779

Structural and functional analysis of a FeoB A143S G5 loop mutant explains the accelerated GDP release rate

2014

Journal Article

The applications of binuclear metallohydrolases in medicine: recent advances in the design and development of novel drug leads for purple acid phosphatases, metallo-beta-lactamases and arginases

McGeary, Ross P., Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke W. (2014). The applications of binuclear metallohydrolases in medicine: recent advances in the design and development of novel drug leads for purple acid phosphatases, metallo-beta-lactamases and arginases. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 76, 132-144. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2014.02.008

The applications of binuclear metallohydrolases in medicine: recent advances in the design and development of novel drug leads for purple acid phosphatases, metallo-beta-lactamases and arginases

2014

Journal Article

Determination of the catalytic activity of binuclear metallohydrolases using isothermal titration calorimetry

Pedroso, Marcelo M., Ely, Fernanda, Lonhienne, Thierry, Gahan, Lawrence R., Ollis, David L., Guddat, Luke W. and Schenk, Gerhard (2014). Determination of the catalytic activity of binuclear metallohydrolases using isothermal titration calorimetry. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 19 (3), 389-398. doi: 10.1007/s00775-013-1079-0

Determination of the catalytic activity of binuclear metallohydrolases using isothermal titration calorimetry

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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