Enzyme engineering with the Flashman Group

The Flashman group is interested in engineering the catalytic properties of plant enzymes as a mechanism to improve plant stress tolerance and/or productivity. Our major focus is on the oxygen-sensing enzymes called Plant Cysteine Oxidases, which have a role in triggering plant adaptive responses to flood-induced hypoxia (low oxygen). We have utilised our background in biochemistry research to gain a structural and functional understanding of PCO enzymes, which can be used to manipulate their activity at the molecular level.