Flavin-dependent enzymes serve as versatile catalysts involved in microbial virulence, bioremediation, and plant metabolism, among other functions. Our research group has made significant contributions to elucidating the mechanism of action of several flavin dependent enzymes within these domains. This presentation will focus on the mechanistic and structural studies of a flavin-dependent monooxygenase (FMO), which plays an essential role in iron acquisition in the pathogenic fungi Aspergillus fumigatus.
I will also present the development of a high-throughput screening assay and the identification of an inhibitor that blocks A. fumigatus growth. Additionally, I will discuss the characterization of an FMO enzyme from Allium sativum (garlic), where biochemical and structural findings shed light on key steps in allicin biosynthesis, and recent investigations into related plant FMOs suggest alternative pathways for allicin biosynthesis in garlic. Lastly, I will highlight future research directions in this area.