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)

141 - 160 of 269 works

2014

Journal Article

Unusual metallo-beta-lactamases may constitute a new subgroup in this family of enzymes

Hou, Chun-Feng D., Phelan, Emer K., Miraula, Manfredi, Ollis, David L., Schenk, Gerhard and Mitić, Nataša (2014). Unusual metallo-beta-lactamases may constitute a new subgroup in this family of enzymes. American Journal of Molecular Biology, 4 (1), 11-15. doi: 10.4236/ajmb.2014.41002

Unusual metallo-beta-lactamases may constitute a new subgroup in this family of enzymes

2014

Conference Publication

Characterization of novel metallo-beta-lactamases from the B3 subgroup

Miraula, Manfredi, Schenk, Gerhard and Mitić, Nataša (2014). Characterization of novel metallo-beta-lactamases from the B3 subgroup. EuroBIC 12: 12th European Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference, Zurich, Switzerland, 24-28 August, 2014. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/s00775-014-1164-z

Characterization of novel metallo-beta-lactamases from the B3 subgroup

2014

Journal Article

Immobilization of the enzyme GpdQ on magnetite nanoparticles for organophosphate pesticide bioremediation

Daumann, Lena J., Larrabee, James A., Ollis, David, Schenk, Gerhard and Gahan, Lawrence R. (2014). Immobilization of the enzyme GpdQ on magnetite nanoparticles for organophosphate pesticide bioremediation. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 131, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2013.10.007

Immobilization of the enzyme GpdQ on magnetite nanoparticles for organophosphate pesticide bioremediation

2014

Journal Article

Spectroscopic and mechanistic studies of dinuclear metallohydrolases and their biomimetic complexes

Daumann, Lena J., Schenk, Gerhard, Ollis, David L. and Gahan, Lawrence R. (2014). Spectroscopic and mechanistic studies of dinuclear metallohydrolases and their biomimetic complexes. Dalton Transactions, 43 (3), 910-928. doi: 10.1039/c3dt52287c

Spectroscopic and mechanistic studies of dinuclear metallohydrolases and their biomimetic complexes

2014

Conference Publication

Kinetics and Structural Analysis of Rv0805 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Pedroso, M., Ely, F., Gahan, L. R., Schenk, G., Ollis, D. L. and Larrabee, J. A. (2014). Kinetics and Structural Analysis of Rv0805 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. 16th International Conference on Biological Inorganic Chemistry (ICBIC), Grenoble France, 22-26 July 2013. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/s00775-014-1095-8

Kinetics and Structural Analysis of Rv0805 from Mycobacterium tuberculosis

2014

Book Chapter

Catalytic mechanisms of metallohydrolases containing two metal ions

Mitić, Nataša, Miraula, Manfredi, Selleck, Christopher, Hadler, Kieran S., Uribe, Elena, Pedroso, M. M. and Schenk, G. (2014). Catalytic mechanisms of metallohydrolases containing two metal ions. Metal-containing enzymes. (pp. 49-81) edited by Christo Z. Christov. Waltham, MA, United States: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2014.07.002

Catalytic mechanisms of metallohydrolases containing two metal ions

2013

Journal Article

Highly efficient synthetic iron-dependent nucleases activate both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic death pathways in leukemia cancer cells

Horn, Adolfo, Jr., Fernandes, Christiane, Parrilha, Gabrieli L., Kanashiro, Milton M., Borges, Franz V., de Melo, Edesio J. T., Schenk, Gerhard, Terenzi, Hernan and Pich, Claus T. (2013). Highly efficient synthetic iron-dependent nucleases activate both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic death pathways in leukemia cancer cells. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 128, 38-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2013.07.019

Highly efficient synthetic iron-dependent nucleases activate both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic death pathways in leukemia cancer cells

2013

Journal Article

Identification and preliminary characterization of novel B3-type metallo-beta-lactamases

Miraula, Manfredi, Brunton, Conor S., Schenk, Gerhard and Mitić, Nataša (2013). Identification and preliminary characterization of novel B3-type metallo-beta-lactamases. American Journal of Molecular Biology, 3 (4), 198-203. doi: 10.4236/ajmb.2013.34026

Identification and preliminary characterization of novel B3-type metallo-beta-lactamases

2013

Journal Article

Identification and characterization of an unusual metallo-beta-lactamase from Serratia proteamaculans

Vella, Peter, Miraula, Manfredi, Phelan, Emer, Leung, Eleanor W. W., Ely, Fernanda, Ollis, David L., McGeary, Ross P., Schenk, Gerhard and Mitić, Nataša (2013). Identification and characterization of an unusual metallo-beta-lactamase from Serratia proteamaculans. Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 18 (7), 855-863. doi: 10.1007/s00775-013-1035-z

Identification and characterization of an unusual metallo-beta-lactamase from Serratia proteamaculans

2013

Journal Article

Asymmetric zinc(II) complexes as functional and structural models for phosphoesterases

Daumann, Lena J., Marty, Laurene, Schenk, Gerhard and Gahan, Lawrence R. (2013). Asymmetric zinc(II) complexes as functional and structural models for phosphoesterases. Dalton Transactions, 42 (26), 9574-9584. doi: 10.1039/c3dt50514f

Asymmetric zinc(II) complexes as functional and structural models for phosphoesterases

2013

Journal Article

Dinuclear cobalt(II) omplexes as metallo--lactamase mimics

Daumann, Lena J., Larrabee, James A., Comba, Peter, Schenk, Gerhard and Gahan, Lawrence R. (2013). Dinuclear cobalt(II) omplexes as metallo--lactamase mimics. European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2013 (17), 3082-3089. doi: 10.1002/ejic.201300280

Dinuclear cobalt(II) omplexes as metallo--lactamase mimics

2013

Journal Article

Ligand modifications modulate the mechanism of binuclear phosphatase biomimetics

Dalle, Kristian E., Daumann, Lena J., Schenk, Gerhard, McGeary, Ross P., Hanton, Lyall R. and Gahan, Lawrence R. (2013). Ligand modifications modulate the mechanism of binuclear phosphatase biomimetics. Polyhedron, 52, 1336-1343. doi: 10.1016/j.poly.2012.06.008

Ligand modifications modulate the mechanism of binuclear phosphatase biomimetics

2013

Journal Article

Synthesis, magnetic properties, and phosphoesterase activity of dinuclear cobalt(II) complexes

Daumann, Lena J., Comba, Peter, Larrabee, James A., Schenk, Gerhard, Stranger, Robert, Cavigiasso, German and Gahan, Lawrence R. (2013). Synthesis, magnetic properties, and phosphoesterase activity of dinuclear cobalt(II) complexes. Inorganic Chemistry, 52 (4), 2029-2043. doi: 10.1021/ic302418x

Synthesis, magnetic properties, and phosphoesterase activity of dinuclear cobalt(II) complexes

2013

Journal Article

Purple acid phosphatase: a journey into the function and mechanism of a colorful enzyme

Schenk, Gerhard, Mitić, Nataša, Hanson, Graeme R. and Comba, Peter (2013). Purple acid phosphatase: a journey into the function and mechanism of a colorful enzyme. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 257 (2), 473-482. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2012.03.020

Purple acid phosphatase: a journey into the function and mechanism of a colorful enzyme

2013

Journal Article

Promiscuity comes at a price: catalytic versatility vs efficiency in different metal ion derivatives of the potential bioremediator GpdQ

Daumann, Lena J., McCarthy, Bianca Y., Hadler, Kieran S., Murray, Tracy P., Gahan, Lawrence R., Larrabee, James A., Ollis, David L. and Schenk, Gerhard (2013). Promiscuity comes at a price: catalytic versatility vs efficiency in different metal ion derivatives of the potential bioremediator GpdQ. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-Proteins and Proteomics, 1834 (1), 425-432. doi: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2012.02.004

Promiscuity comes at a price: catalytic versatility vs efficiency in different metal ion derivatives of the potential bioremediator GpdQ

2012

Journal Article

Spectroscopic characterization of the active (FeFeIII)-Fe-III and (FeFeII)-Fe-III forms of a purple acid phosphatase model system

Comba, Peter, Gahan, Lawrence R., Mereacre, Valeriu, Hanson, Graeme R., Powell, Annie K., Schenk, Gerhard and Zajaczkowski-Fischer, Marta (2012). Spectroscopic characterization of the active (FeFeIII)-Fe-III and (FeFeII)-Fe-III forms of a purple acid phosphatase model system. Inorganic Chemistry, 51 (22), 12195-12209. doi: 10.1021/ic301347t

Spectroscopic characterization of the active (FeFeIII)-Fe-III and (FeFeII)-Fe-III forms of a purple acid phosphatase model system

2012

Journal Article

Identification of purple acid phosphatase inhibitors by fragment-based screening: promising new leads for osteoporosis therapeutics

Feder, Daniel, Hussein, Waleed M., Clayton, Daniel J., Kan, Meng-Wei, Schenk, Gerhard, McGeary, Ross P. and Guddat, Luke W. (2012). Identification of purple acid phosphatase inhibitors by fragment-based screening: promising new leads for osteoporosis therapeutics. Chemical Biology and Drug Design, 80 (5), 665-674. doi: 10.1111/cbdd.12001

Identification of purple acid phosphatase inhibitors by fragment-based screening: promising new leads for osteoporosis therapeutics

2012

Journal Article

Synthesis and kinetic testing of tetrahydropyrimidine-2-thione and pyrrole derivatives as inhibitors of the metallo-β-lactamase from Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Hussein, Waleed M., Fatahala, Samar S., Mohamed, Zainab M., McGeary, Ross P., Schenk, Gerhard, Ollis, David L. and Mohamed, Mosaad S. (2012). Synthesis and kinetic testing of tetrahydropyrimidine-2-thione and pyrrole derivatives as inhibitors of the metallo-β-lactamase from Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Chemical Biology and Drug Design, 80 (4), 500-515. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-0285.2012.01440.x

Synthesis and kinetic testing of tetrahydropyrimidine-2-thione and pyrrole derivatives as inhibitors of the metallo-β-lactamase from Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2012

Journal Article

Bacterial and plant ketol-acid reductoisomerases have different mechanisms of induced fit during the catalytic cycle

Wong, Sze-Ho, Lonhienne, Thierry G. A., Winzor, Donald J., Schenk, Gerhard and Guddat, Luke W. (2012). Bacterial and plant ketol-acid reductoisomerases have different mechanisms of induced fit during the catalytic cycle. Journal of Molecular Biology, 424 (3-4), 168-179. doi: 10.1016/j.jmb.2012.09.018

Bacterial and plant ketol-acid reductoisomerases have different mechanisms of induced fit during the catalytic cycle

2012

Journal Article

Binuclear metallohydrolases: Complex mechanistic strategies for a simple chemical reaction

Schenk, Gerhard, Mitić, Nataša, Gahan, Lawrence R., Ollis, David L., McGeary, Ross P. and Guddat, Luke W. (2012). Binuclear metallohydrolases: Complex mechanistic strategies for a simple chemical reaction. Accounts of Chemical Research, 45 (9), 1593-1603. doi: 10.1021/ar300067g

Binuclear metallohydrolases: Complex mechanistic strategies for a simple chemical reaction

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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