Amanda Morgenstern, Ph.D.
Abstract
Natural enzymes speed up biochemical reactions from weeks or even years to seconds. On the other hand, artificially designed enzymes are generally far less efficient. It has been suggested that efficiency could be improved through incorporation of the specific electric field that a full protein creates in its active site. My research group focuses on developing tools based on the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM) to extract such information from the electron charge density to better understand catalysis and improve enzyme design. Here, I will introduce our QTAIM methods using kemp eliminase, ketosteroid isomerase, and murine epoxide hydrolase as examples of designed enzymes.
When: February 20, 2026
Where: North Classroom
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00pm