Claudio Gonzalez
Professor
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Teaching Interests
- MCB 3023 - Principles of Microbiology
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Education
- Ph.D. (2000) National University of Tucumán, Argentine.
- 2004-2007 Banting and Best Institute (University of Toronto),
- 2003-2004 University of California at San Diego (UCSD),
- 2000-2003 Stanford University
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Description of Research
General area: Gene expression and regulation; protein engineering, enzyme production and characterization.
My lab is interested in the functional and biological characterization of unknown proteins with hydrolytic activity.
- Identification of natural substrates
- Determination of the metabolic pathway to which they are associated
- Elucidation of regulatory circuits involved on its expression or activity
We are especially interested in a big group of enzymes called esterases that includes carboxylesterases, arylesterases and thioesterases. To accomplish this task we are using rapid screening techniques combining hundred of natural and synthetic substrates. This big group of enzymes is involved in different cellular functions from biosynthetic pathways to xenobiotics detoxification processes. Elucidate the biological role of unknown enzymes with esterase activity represents a big challenge due its broad substrate specificity. However, this hydrolytic plasticity associated with the stereoselectivity of some of them makes this group of proteins useful for many industrial, biomedical and environmental applications.
- Publications
Contact Information
352-273-8088
Office:
Rm. # 306
UF Genetics Institute
Lab Website