• Project title: Discovery of Bacterial Diterpenoids by Genome Mining

• PI: Dr. Jeffrey Rudolf

• Location: Department of Chemistry, University of Florida

• Involvement timeframe: Jan. 2024-Present

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I work in the Rudolf Lab as an undergraduate research student in the biosynthesis of terpenoids. Terpenoids are a large and diverse class of natural products that originate from simple skeletons known as terpenes. These compounds are known to exhibit sophisticated structures and unique bioactivities, and as a result, they have extensive applications in medicine, agriculture, and fragrances. Most known terpenoids have been isolated from plant and fungi sources; however, recent genomic data suggests that bacteria possess the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) necessary to produce such compounds, especially the subgroup of terpenoids known as diterpenoids. We explore how these molecules can be made via genetic manipulation, and how those molecules can be isolated and characterized.

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My responsibilities include aiding in gene cloning and transformation/conjugation, inoculation of bacteria, and natural product isolation through analytical techniques.