Michael D. Burkart

This study uses deep learning to redesign an antifreeze protein, identifying variants with improved properties but not surpassing wild-type activity.

The paper identifies a hidden binding pocket in FabB that allows alternative acyl chain binding, contrasting with FabF's loss of long-chain binding upon mutation.

The paper shows that petroleum-derived microplastics cause algal blooms and reduce zooplankton, while bioplastics have less impact in experimental ponds.

The paper identifies and overexpresses key transcription factors in Chlamydomonas pacifica to enhance lipid accumulation for biodiesel production.

The paper demonstrates the production of a plastic-degrading enzyme, PHL7, in the extremophile alga Chlamydomonas pacifica in open raceway ponds.

This study demonstrates the de novo formation of lipid bilayers from primitive metabolites without preexisting membranes or templates.

This paper genetically engineers the extremophile alga Chlamydomonas pacifica to produce high lipid and starch levels for biodiesel and thermoplastic polyurethane precursors, demonstrating scalability in pilot-scale cultivation.

This study identifies genome-level mutations in an evolved Escherichia coli strain adapted to high pressure, revealing potential genetic factors contributing to piezotolerance.

This paper describes a chemoenzymatic method using bacterial fatty acid synthase to generate phospholipid membranes from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA precursors.