Professor Alexander Yakunin

Professor In Enzyme Discovery and Application

Contact info

 

Professor Alexander Yakunin (Iakounine)

 

Office: Thoday Building, room S25

Email: a.iakounine@bangor.ac.uk

Tel: 01248 388399

 

Research focus: enzyme discovery, enzymology, enzyme applications

  1. Article › Research › Peer-reviewed
  2. A family of metal-dependent phosphatases implicated in metabolite damage-control

    Huang, L., Khusnutdinova, A., Nocek, B., Brown, G., Xu, X., Cui, H., Petit, P., Flick, R., Zallot, R., Balmant, K., Ziemak, M. J., Shanklin, J., de Crecy-Lagard, V., Fiehn, O., Gregory, J. F. ,. I., Joachimiak, A., Savchenko, A., Yakunin, A. F. & Hanson, A. D., Aug 2016, In: Nature Chemical Biology. 12, 8, p. 621-627

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  3. Published

    A microplate screen to estimate metal-binding affinities of metalloproteins

    Diep, P., Mahadevan, R. & Yakunin, A. F., 15 Nov 2020, In: Analytical biochemistry. 609, p. 113836

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  4. Published

    A random mutagenesis screen enriched for missense mutations in bacterial effector proteins

    Urbanus, M. L., Zheng, T. M., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Banh, D., O'Connor Mount, H., Gupta, A., Stogios, P. J., Savchenko, A., Isberg, R. R., Yakunin, A. F. & Ensminger, A. W., 4 Sept 2024, In: G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 14, 9

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  5. Published

    Activity screening of environmental metagenomic libraries reveals novel carboxylesterase families

    Popovic, A., Hai, T., Tchigvintsev, A., Hajighasemi, M., Nocek, B., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Brown, G., Glinos, J., Flick, R., Skarina, T., Chernikova, T., Yim, V., Bruls, T., Le Paslier, D., Yakimov, M. M., Joachimiak, A., Ferrer, M., Golyshina, O., Savchenko, A., Golyshin, P. & Yakunin, A. F., Mar 2017, In: Scientific Reports. 7, 44103, 44103.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  6. Alkene hydrogenation activity of enoate reductases for an environmentally benign biosynthesis of adipic acid

    Joo, J. C., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Flick, R., Kim, T., Bornscheuer, U. T., Yakunin, A. F. & Mahadevan, R., 1 Feb 2017, In: Chemical Science. 8, 2, p. 1406-1413

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  7. Published

    An Amino Acid Self-Regenerating Cell-Free Protein Synthesis System that Feeds on PLA Plastics, CO2, Ammonium, and α-ketoglutarate

    Nishikawa, S., Yu, W.-C., Jia, T. Z., He, M.-J., Khusnutdinova, A., Yakunin, A., Chiang, Y.-R., Fujishima, K. & Wang, P.-H., 17 May 2024, In: ACS Catalysis. 14, 10, p. 7696-7706

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  8. Published

    Biochemical and structural insights into enzymatic depolymerization of polylactic acid and other polyesters by microbial carboxylesterases

    Hajighasemi, M., Nocek, B. P., Tchigvintsev, A., Brown, G., Flick, R., Xu, X., Cui, H., Hai, T., Joachimiak, A., Golyshin, P., Savchenko, A., Edwards, E. A. & Yakunin, A. F., 18 Apr 2016, In: Biomacromolecules. 17, 6, p. 2027-2039

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  9. Published

    Biochemical plasticity of the Escherichia coli CRISPR Cascade revealed by in vitro reconstitution of Cascade activities from purified Cas proteins

    Lemak, S., Brown, G., Makarova, K. S., Koonin, E. V. & Yakunin, A., 2024, In: Febs Journal. p. 1-18 18 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  10. Biosynthesis and activity of prenylated FMN cofactors

    Wang, P.-H., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Luo, F., Xiao, J., Nemr, K., Flick, R., Brown, G., Mahadevan, R., Edwards, E. & Yakunin, A., 17 May 2018, In: Cell Chemical Biology. 25, 5, p. 560-570

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  11. CRISPR RNA binding and DNA target recognition by purified Cascade complexes from Escherichia coli

    Beloglazova, N., Kuznedelov, K., Flick, R., Datsenko, K. A., Brown, G., Popovic, A., Lemak, S., Semenova, E., Severinov, K. & Yakunin, A. F., Jan 2015, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 43, 1, p. 530-543

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  12. Published

    CRISPR-induced DNA reorganization for multiplexed nucleic acid detection

    Karlikow, M., Amalfitano, E., Yang, X., Doucet, J., Chapman, A., Sadat-Moussavi, P., Homme, P., Sutyrina, P., Chang, W., Lemak, S., Yakunin, A., Dolezal, A. G., Kelley, S., Foster, L., Harpur, B. & Pardee, K., 17 Mar 2023, In: Nature Communications. 14, 1, 1505.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  13. Published

    Determinants and prediction of esterase substrate promiscuity patterns

    Martínez-Martínez, M., Coscolín, C., Santiago, G., Chow, J., Stogios, P. J., Bargiela, R., Gertler, C., Navarro-Fernández, J., Bollinger, A., Thies, S., Méndez-García, C., Popovic, A., Brown, G., Chernikova, T., García-Moyano, A., Bjerga, G. E. K., Perez-Garcia, P., Hai, T., del Pozo, M. V., Stokke, R., Steen, I. H., Cui, H., Xu, X., Nocek, B., Alcaide, M., Disasto, M., Mesa, V., Pelaez, A. I., Sanchez, J., Buchholz, P. C. F., Pleiss, J., Fernández-Guerra, A., Glockner, F. O., Golyshina, O., Yakimov, M. M., Savchenko, A., Jaeger, K.-E., Yakunin, A. F., Streit, W. R., Golyshin, P., Guallar, V. & Ferrer, M., 2018, In: ACS Chemical Biology. 13, 1, p. 225-234

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  14. Published

    Diversity of hydrolases from hydrothermal vent sediments of the Levante Bay, Vulcano Island (Aeolian archipelago) identified by activity-based metagenomics and biochemical characterization of new esterases and an arabinopyranosidase

    Placido, A., Hai, T., Ferrer, M., Chernikova, T. N., Distaso, M. A., Armstrong, D., Yakunin, A. F., Toshchakov, S. V., Yakimov, M. M., Kublanov, I. V., Golyshina, O., Pesole, G., Ceci, L. R. & Golyshin, P., 1 Dec 2015, In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 99, 23, p. 10031-10046

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  15. Engineering a short, aldolase based pathway for (R)-1,3-butanediol production in Escherichia coli

    Nemr, K., Muller, J., Joo, J. C., Gawand, P., Cjoudhary, R., Mendonca, B., Lu, S., Yu, X., Yakunin, A. & Mahadevan, R., 1 Jul 2018, In: Metabolic Engineering. 48, p. 13-24

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  16. Published

    Genome sequence and functional genomic analysis of the oil-degrading bacterium Oleispira antarctica

    Golyshina, O., Hai, T., Kube, M., Chernikova, T. N., Al-Ramahi, Y., Beloqui, A., Lopez-Cortez, N., Guazzaroni, M. E., Heipieper, H. J., Klages, S., Kotsyurbenko, O. R., Langer, I., Nechitaylo, T. Y., Lünsdorf, H., Fernández, M., Juárez, S., Ciordia, S., Singer, A., Kagan, O., Egorova, O., Petit, P. A., Stogios, P., Kim, Y., Tchigvintsev, A., Flick, R., Denaro, R., Genovese, M., Albar, J. P., Reva, O. N., Martínez-Gomariz, M., Tran, H., Ferrer, M., Savchenko, A., Yakunin, A. F., Yakimov, M. M., Golyshina, O. V., Reinhardt, R. & Golyshin, P. N., 23 Jul 2013, In: Nature Communications. 4, p. 2156

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  17. Published

    Heavy metal removal by bioaccumulation using genetically engineered microorganisms

    Diep, P., Mahadevan, R. & Yakunin, A., 29 Oct 2018, In: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 6, 157.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  18. Published

    Identification and characterization of carboxyl esterases of gill chamber-associated microbiota in the deep-sea shrimp Rimicaris exoculata using functional metagenomics

    Alcaide, M., Tchigvinstsev, A., Martinez-Martinez, M., Popovic, A., Reva, O. N., Lafraya, A., Bargiela, R. N., Nechitaylo, T. Y., Matesanz, R., Cambon-Bonavita, M., Jebbar, M., Savchenko, A., Yakimov, M. M., Golyshina, O., Yakunin, A. F., Golyshin, P., Ferrer, M. & The MAMBA Consortium., [. V., 16 Jan 2015, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 81, 6, p. 2125-2136

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  19. Published

    Lignin-oxidizing activity of bacterial laccases characterized using soluble substrates and polymeric lignin

    Choolaei, Z., Flick, R., Khusnutdinova, A., Edwards, E. A. & Yakunin, A. F., 10 Jan 2021, In: Journal of Biotechnology. 325, p. 128-137 10 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  20. Published

    Metabolic and evolutionary patterns in the extremely acidophilic archaeon Ferroplasma acidiphilum YT

    Golyshina, O., Hai, T., Reva, O. N., Lemak, S., Yakunin, A. F., Goesmann, A., Nechitaylo, T. Y., LaCono, V., Smedile, F., Slesarev, A., Rojo, D., Barbas, C., Ferrer, M., Yakimov, M. M. & Golyshin, P., 16 Jun 2017, In: Scientific Reports. 7, 3682.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  21. Published

    Metabolite Damage and Damage-Control in a Minimal Genome

    Haas, D., Thamm, A. M., Sun, J., Huang, L., Sun, L., Beaudoin, G. A. W., Wise, K. S., Lema-Ortiz, C., Bruner, S. D., Breuer, M., Luthey-Schutten, Z., Lin, J., Wilson, M. A., Brown, G., Yakunin, A., Kurilyak, I., Folz, J., Fiehn, O., Glass, J. I., Hanson, A. D., Henry, C. S. & de Crecy-Lagard, V., 30 Aug 2022, In: mBio. e0163022.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  22. Published

    Moderately thermostable GH1 β-glucosidases from hyperacidophilic archaeon Cuniculiplasma divulgatum S5

    Khusnutdinova, A., Hai, T., Devlekar, S., Distaso, M., Kublanov, I. V., Skarina, T., Stogios, P., Savchenko, A., Ferrer, M., Golyshina, O., Yakunin, A. & Golyshin, P., Sept 2024, In: Fems Microbiology Ecology. 100, 9, fiae114.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  23. Published

    Ni(II)-binding affinity of CcNikZ-II and its homologs: the role of the HH-prong and variable loop revealed by structural and mutational studies

    Diep, P., Stogios, P. J., Evdokimova, E., Savchenko, A., Mahadevan, R. & Yakunin, A. F., Jul 2024, In: Febs Journal. 291, 13, p. 2980-2993 14 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  24. Published

    One-pot biocatalytic transformation of adipic acid to 6-aminocaproic acid and 1,6-hexamethylenediamine using carboxylic acid reductases and transaminases

    Fedorchuk, T. P., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Evdokimova, E., Flick, R., Di Leo, R., Stogios, P. J., Savchenko, A. & Yakunin, A., 15 Jan 2020, In: Journal of the American Chemical Society. 142, 2, p. 1038-1048 11 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  25. Published

    One-pot chemo-enzymatic synthesis and one-step recovery of length-variable long-chain polyphosphates from microalgal biomass

    Lin, Y.-H., Nishikawa, S., Jia, T. Z., Yeh, F.-I., Khusnutdinova, A., Yakunin, A., Fujishima, K. & Wang, P.-H., 27 Oct 2023, In: Green Chemistry. 23

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  26. E-pub ahead of print

    Polyesterase activity is widespread in the family IV carboxylesterases from bacteria

    Ma, H., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Lemak, S., Chernikova, T. N., Golyshina, O. V., Almendral, D., Ferrer, M., Golyshin, P. N. & Yakunin, A. F., 5 Jan 2025, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 481, p. 136540

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  27. Published

    Pressure adaptation is linked to thermal adaptation in salt-saturated marine habitats

    Alcaide, M., Stogios, P. J., Lafraya, A., Tchigvintsev, A., Flick, R., Bargiela, R., Chernikova, T. N., Reva, O. N., Hai, T., Leggewie, C. C., Katzke, N., La Cono, V., Matesanz, R., Jebbar, M., Jaeger, K., Yakimov, M. M., Yakunin, A. F., Golyshin, P. N., Golyshina, O. V., Savchenko, A. & Ferrer, M., 17 Dec 2014, In: Environmental Microbiology. 17, 2, p. 332-345

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  28. Published

    Proteome cold-shock response in the extremely acidophilic archaeon, Cuniculiplasma divulgatum

    Bargiela, R., Lanthaler, K., Potter, C., Ferrer, M., Yakunin, A., Paizs, B., Golyshin, P. & Golyshina, O., 19 May 2020, In: Microorganisms . 8, 5

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  29. Published

    Quantifying metal-binding specificity of CcNikZ-II from Clostridium carboxidivorans in the presence of competing metal ions

    Diep, P., Kell, B., Yakunin, A., Hilfinger, A. & Mahadevan, R., 1 Sept 2023, In: Analytical biochemistry. 676, 115182.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  30. Published

    Relationships between Substrate Promiscuity and Chiral Selectivity of Esterases from Phylogenetically and Environmentally Diverse Microorganisms

    Coscolín, C., Martínez-Martínez, M., Chow, J., Bargiela, R., García-Moyano, A., Bjerga, G. E. K., Bollinger, A., Stokke, R., Steen, I. H., Golyshina, O., Yakimov, M. M., Jaeger, K.-E., Yakunin, A. F., Streit, W. R., Golyshin, P. & Ferrer, M., 5 Jan 2018, In: Catalysts. 8, 1, 10.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  31. SAMHD1 is a biomarker for cytarabine response and a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia

    Schneider, C., Oellerich, T., Baldauf, H.-M., Schwarz, S.-M., Thomas, D., Flick, R., Bohnenberger, H., Kaderali, L., Stegmann, L., Cremer, A., Martin, M., Lohmeyer, J., Michaelis, M., Hornung, V., Schliemann, C., Berdel, W. E., Hartmann, W., Wardelmann, E., Comoglio, F., Hansmann, M.-L., Yakunin, A. F., Geisslinger, G., Stroebel, P., Ferreiros, N., Serve, H., Keppler, O. T. & Cinatl, J. J., Feb 2017, In: Nature Medicine. 23, 2, p. 250-255

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  32. Scaling-up Engineering Biology for Enhanced Environmental Solutions

    Hassard, F., Curtis, T. P., Dotro, G. C., Golyshin, P., Gutierrez, T., Heaven, S., Horsfall, L., Jefferson, B., Jones, D. L., Krasnogor, N., Kumar, V., Lea-Smith, D. J., Le Corre Pidou, K., Liu, Y., Lyu, T., McCarthy, R. R., McKew, B., Smith, C., Yakunin, A., Yang, Z., Zhang, Y. & Coulon, F., 21 Jun 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ACS synthetic biology. 13, 6, p. 1586-1588 3 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  33. Published

    Screening and Characterization of Novel Polyesterases from Environmental Metagenomes with High Hydrolytic Activity against Synthetic Polyesters

    Hajighasemi, M., Tchigvintsev, A., Nocek, B., Flick, R., Popovic, A., Hai, T., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Brown, G., Xu, X., Cui, H., Anstett, J., Chernikova, T., Bruls, T., Le Paslier, D., Yakimov, M. M., Joachimiak, A., Golyshina, O., Savchenko, A., Golyshin, P., Edwards, E. A. & Yakunin, A. F., 6 Nov 2018, In: Environmental Science and Technology. 52, 21, p. 12388-12401

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  34. Published

    Site-directed mutagenesis and stability of the carboxylic acid reductase MAB4714 from Mycobacterium abscessus

    Fedorchuk, T. P., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Flick, R. & Yakunin, A., 10 Sept 2019, In: Journal of Biotechnology. 303, p. 72-79

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  35. Structural Insights into Substrate Selectivity and Activity of Bacterial Polyphosphate Kinases

    Nocek, B. P., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Ruszkowski, M., Flick, R., Burda, M., Batyrova, K., Brown, G., Mucha, A., Joachimiak, A., Berlicki, L. & Yakunin, A. F., 2 Nov 2018, In: ACS Catalysis. 8, 11, p. 10746-10760

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  36. Published

    Structural and biochemical insights into CRISPR RNA processing by the Cas5c ribonuclease SMU1763 from Streptococcus mutans

    Lemak, S., Serbanescu, M. A., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Ruszkowski, M., Beloglazova, N., Xu, X., Brown, G., Cui, H., Tan, K., Joachimiak, A., Cvitkovitch, D. G., Savchenko, A. & Yakunin, A., Nov 2021, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 297, 5, 101251.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  37. Published

    Structural insights into hydrolytic defluorination of difluoroacetate by microbial fluoroacetate dehalogenases

    Khusnutdinova, A. N., Batyrova, K., Brown, G., Fedorchuck, T., Chai, Y. S., Skarina, T., Flick, R., Petit, A.-P., Savchenko, A., Stogios, P. & Yakunin, A., Oct 2023, In: Febs Journal. 290, 20, p. 4966-4983 18 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  38. Published

    Structure and activity of the cold-active and anion-activated carboxyl esterase OLEI01171 from the oil-degrading marine bacterium Oleispira antarctica

    Lemak, S., Tchigvintsev, A., Petit, P., Flick, R., Singer, A. U., Brown, G., Evdokimova, E., Egorova, O., Gonzalez, C. F., Chernikova, T. N., Yakimov, M. M., Kube, M., Reinhardt, R., Golyshin, P. N., Savchenko, A. & Yakunin, A. F., 15 Jul 2012, In: Biochemical Journal. 445, 2, p. 193-203

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  39. Published

    Systems engineering of Escherichia coli for n-butane production

    Liu, Y., Khusnutdinova, A., Chen, J., Crisante, D., Batyrova, K., Raj, K., Feigis, M., Shirzadi, E., Wang, X., Dorakhan, R., Wang, X., Stogios, P. J., Yakunin, A. F., Sargent, E. H. & Mahadevan, R., 1 Nov 2022, In: Metabolic Engineering. 74, p. 98-107 10 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  40. The CRISPR-associated Cas4 protein Pcal_0546 from Pyrobaculum calidifontis contains a [2Fe-2S] cluster: crystal structure and nuclease activity

    Lemak, S., Nocek, B., Beloglazova, N., Skarina, T., Flick, R., Brown, G., Joachimiak, A., Savchenko, A. & Yakunin, A. F., 29 Sept 2014, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 42, 17, p. 11144-11155

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  41. Published

    The environment shapes microbial enzymes: five cold-active and salt-resistant carboxylesterases from marine metagenomes

    Tchigvintsev, A., Tran, H., Popvic, A., Kovacic, F., Brown, G., Flick, R., Hajighasemi, M., Egorova, O., Somody, J. C., Tchigvintsev, D., Khusnutdinova, A., Chernikova, T. N., Golyshina, O., Yakimov, M. M., Savchenko, A., Golyshin, P., Jaeger, K. E. & Yakunin, A. F., 1 Mar 2015, In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 99, 5, p. 2165-2178

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  42. Published

    Thermophilic Carboxylesterases from Hydrothermal Vents of the Volcanic Island of Ischia Active on Synthetic and Biobased Polymers and Mycotoxins

    Distaso, M., Chernikova, T., Bargiela, R., Coscolín, C., Stogios, P. J., Gonzalez-Alfonso, J. L., Lemak, S., Khusnutdinova, A., Plou, F. J., Evdokimova, E., Savchenko, A., Lunev, E., Yakimov, M. M., Golyshina, O., Ferrer, M., Yakunin, A. & Golyshin, P., 28 Feb 2023, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 89, 2, p. e0170422 20 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

  43. Chapter › Research › Peer-reviewed
  44. Published

    Metagenomics as a tool for enzyme discovery: hydrolytic enzymes from marine-related metagenomes

    Popovic, A., Tchigvintsev, A., Tran, H., Chernikova, T. N., Golyshina, O. V., Yakimov, M. M., Golyshin, P. N. & Yakunin, A. F., 2015, Prokaryotic Systems Biology. Springer, p. 1-20 20 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

  45. Published

    Prenylated FMN: biosynthesis, purification, and Fdc1 activation

    Khusnutdinova, A. N., Xiao, J., Wang, P.-H., Batyrova, K., Flick, R., Edwards, E. & Yakunin, A., 2019, New Approaches for Flavin Catalysis. Palfey, B. A. (ed.). Elsevier, Vol. 620. p. 469-488 (Methods in Enzymology).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

  46. Review article › Research › Peer-reviewed
  47. Published

    Harnessing extremophilic carboxylesterases for applications in polyester depolymerisation and plastic waste recycling

    Williams, G., Ma, H., Khusnutdinova, A., Yakunin, A. & Golyshin, P., Aug 2023, In: Essays in Biochemistry. 67, 4, p. 715-729 15 p., EBC20220255.

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review