DrAshleigh Paparella

The transition state structure of an enzyme-catalysed reaction is high energy, unstable structure which is positioned between the chemical structures of the reactants and products. Enzymes function by lowering the energy barrier required to form the transition state, thereby increasing the rate of reaction. Knowledge of the transition state structure is critical to understanding the mechanisms of enzymes and importantly can be exploited to generate new drugs. Drugs that mimic the transition state of an enzyme catalysed reaction are known as transition state analogues and are tight binding enzyme inhibitors.

My research involves studying the transition state features of a class of enzymes known as glycosyltransferases. Glycosyltransferases catalyse the transfer of a sugar from a donor substrate to an acceptor which can include sugars, proteins and lipids. I am particularly interested in studying the transition states of glycosyltransferases that are involved in the synthesis and modification of peptidoglycan and applying this knowledge to develop new antibiotics.