Paula V. Welander

Characterization of aliA and aliB deletion mutants reveals a dominant role of AliA in Haloferax volcanii lipoprotein lipidation

A sterol reductase responsible for the unusual 8(14)-unsaturation in bacterial sterol production and degradation

This paper identifies a bacterial 8,14-sterol reductase responsible for generating the 8(14)-unsaturation in sterols produced by aerobic methanotrophs and related organisms.

A lipid compendium of a metabolically compromised bacterium provides insights into lipid acquisition, biosynthesis, and metabolism

This study identifies a complex lipid profile in Borrelia burgdorferi, revealing its reliance on environmental lipids and its ability to synthesize eukaryotic-like lipids.

Biochemical characterization of bacterial methyltransferases reveals necessary residues for sterol side-chain propylation

The paper identifies key residues in bacterial SMTs necessary for sterol side-chain propylation and shows their conservation across methylating, ethylating, and propylating SMTs.

Identification of radical SAM enzymes responsible for the methylation and desaturation of archaeal lipids and an AttH hydratase mediating hydroxy-GDGT biosynthesis

This paper identifies novel radical SAM enzymes involved in archaeal lipid methylation, desaturation, and hydroxy-GDGT biosynthesis using three archaeal species.

Beyond bacterial paradigms: uncovering the functional significance and first biogenesis machinery of archaeal lipoproteins

The paper identifies and characterizes archaeal lipoprotein biogenesis components, showing their essential role in archaeal cell physiology and revealing distinct enzymatic activities.

The evolutionary history and modern diversity of triterpenoid cyclases

This study investigates the evolutionary history and functional diversity of triterpenoid cyclases using biochemical assays and evolutionary models, revealing deep divergence and potential positive selection in key enzyme regions.

A geranylgeranyl reductase homolog required for cholesterol production in Myxococcota

This paper identifies two myxobacteria capable of cholesterol biosynthesis, reveals a distinct pathway and reductase enzyme, and provides phylogenomic evidence for complex evolutionary history of sterol biosynthesis in Myxococcota.

Archaeal lineages related to eukaryotes encode functional diterpenoid cyclases

The paper identifies and characterizes diterpenoid cyclases in Asgardarchaeota, showing they produce bicyclic halimadienyl pyrophosphate, potentially relevant to microbial persistence.