Newly out from my lab! Here, we described the utility & the metabolic impact of molecular transporters in engineered 𧬠yeast, producing the anti-hypertensive drug, ajmalicine. π@utscbiology.bsky.social @utsc.utoronto.ca
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Overnight whole plasmid, whole genome, etc. DNA sequencing is now available @utsc.utoronto.ca. Look at our beautiful @flowgenomics.bsky.social dropbox π¨π¦π§¬
In our latest preprint we report the unexpected discovery of Epi-STR, an R-stereoselective ortholog of the S-selective canonical Strictosidine synthases (STRs). Found in the rather obscure plant Pogonopus specious. This work was led by my stellar student Clara Morweiser!
#natprod
#PlantScience
We have 5 new undergrads working in the lab this semester - Camille, Gabriel, Eshal, and Dilaksha (Fanfan's team!) and Abinaya (working with Lorena). See their profiles here: www.dastmalchilab.com/lab/people
Our lab is attending Plant Bio 2026 in Ottawa! See you all July 18-22! @aspbofficial.bsky.social @cspbscbv.bsky.social
ProteinβProtein Interactions Modulate a Key Branch Point in Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis | ACS Chemical Biology pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
#books I read in 2025: Not as many strong recommendations to give this year. Vineland was a slog. Latronico's Perfection was a tasty palate cleanser.
Dastmalchi Lab 2025 / Holiday Partyπ
In 1996, almost thirty years ago, Stephan Clemens & Wolfgang Barz described a methylenedioxy bridge formation reaction, converting calycosin to pseudobaptigenin. Today, we have identified the enzyme catalyst from red clover! π @UTSC @UtscBiology
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Such a neat idea for a special collection! New insights / side projects, consider submitting here.
Went for a run last week along the scenic Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail @utsc.utoronto.ca -- that starts behind our lab and can be followed to the lake! -- and made a friend.
The Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Arthur Neish Young Investigator Award and applications for the TPJ-PSNA Early Career Award!
The deadline is January 30, 2026.
Find the guideline at: www.psna-online.org/awards
#PSNA #PlantMetabolism
Salicylic acid biosynthesis via the PAL pathway requires benzaldehyde synthase and a benzyl salicylate-specific esterase (Dawei Ma, Harley Gordon, Rashid Nazir, Jeremy E Wulff, C Peter Constabel) doi.org/10.1093/plce... #PlantScience @aspbofficial
Iconic smokestacks / Andrews Building @utsc.utoronto.ca.
Interesting, rather than juglone, 2Z-decaprenol isolated as a strong allelochemical from Juglans mandshurica via bioassay-guided fractionation. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Registered!
I have tried and failed to finish reading LΓ‘szlΓ³ Krasznahorkai's SΓ‘tΓ‘ntangΓ³ on more than one occasion. Clearly #Nobel worthy.
The 2025 #CSPB_ERM conference website is now ONLINE!
LINK: event.fourwaves.com/erm2025
Early registration: Oct. 24
Regular registration: Oct. 25-Nov. 12
Abstract deadline for oral/poster presentations: Oct. 24
Student/postdoc registration fees are heavily discounted. See you soon!
π’Announcement!
The call for πππ π
ππ₯π₯π¨π°π¬π‘π’π© π¬ππ‘ππ¦π ππ¨π« ππππ is now open! π
It is designed to offer support and mentorship to researchers transitioning from post-doctoral scientists to principal investigators
Info: πhttp://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/1365313x/homepage/TPJ-fellowships
& in π§΅
A dropbox at UTSC would be really neat! Loads of labs here that could make use!
Our new study in Nature Plants maps how "multi-tasking" enzymes in plants transfer nitrogen, a key step toward improving crop N use efficiency. π±
Big thanks to our collaborators from Max Planck, Hokkaido Univ, & MSU, and for support from @NSF and @DOE.
Learn more: rdcu.be/eFOFN
#PlantMetabolism
Photo credit: @satyakirv.bsky.social :)
I'm here. New lab, new office. Back at @utoronto.ca where it all started (Class of 2029). Re-starting my research program on the gorgeous @utsc.utoronto.ca campus.
