Dr Edward Hems
Research Assistant
Edward is a chemist with an interest in isolating and characterising specialised metabolites from microbes. As well as having useful biological activities, many of these compounds have rare and interesting chemistry. As such Edward works closely with microbiologists and biochemists to elucidate the fascinating biosynthetic pathways which produce this diverse range of molecules.
Edward received training in carbohydrate chemistry, focussed on glycosylated algal toxins. Since becoming a research assistant in the Wilkinson laboratory, Edward has enjoyed helping colleagues across the Department of Molecular Microbiology to extract, purify and analyse specialised metabolites and their intermediates. He also facilities colleagues with the synthesis of probes and substrates, as well as the modification (semi synthesis) of natural products.
Edward enjoys collaborations across the Norwich Research Park and beyond, and has recently developed a new passion for small molecule X-ray crystallography with colleagues in the Structural Biology platform to solve complex molecular structures.
Selected Publications
-
Ford JJ, Santos-Aberturas J, Hems ES, Sallmen JW, Bögeholz LAK, Polturak G, Osbourn A, Wright JA, Rodnina MV, Vereecke D, Francis IM, Truman AW (2025)Identification of the lydiamycin biosynthetic gene cluster in a plant pathogen guides structural revision and identification of molecular target.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of AmericaPublisher's version: 0027-8424
-
Batey SFD, Davie MJ, Hems E, Liston JD, Scott TA, Alt S, Francklyn CS, Wilkinson B (2023)The catechol moiety of obafluorin is essential for antibacterial activity.RSC chemical biology (4)Publisher's version: 2633-0679
-
McDonald HP, Alford A, Devine R, Hems E, Nepogodiev SA, Arnold CJ, Rejzek M, Stanley-Smith A, Holmes NA, Hutchings MI, Wilkinson B (2023)Heterologous Expression of the Formicamycin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Unveils Glycosylated Fasamycin Congeners.Journal of natural products (86)Publisher's version: 0163-3864