Welcome!

Welcome to the Laboratory for Chemical Synthetic Biology & Xenobiology, led by Professor Nediljko (Ned) Budisa, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Chemical Synthetic Biology & Xenobiology at the University of Manitoba

Our Laboratory for Chemical Synthetic Biology & Xenobiology aims to create artificial biodiversity by engineering new genetic codes for molecular-level insights and innovative technologies.

Our work is strongly interdisciplinary at the intersection of fundamental research and transformative biotechnological applications. This interdisciplinarity unites chemists, molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, biotechnologists, and biophysicists to engineer proteins via in vivo incorporation of noncanonical amino acids, supported by organic synthesis of bioorthogonal molecules.

Watch public YouTube/Vimeo posts about our research:

• Expanding genetic code of life
• Methodological challenges of an expanded genetic code
• Vienna 2015: Expanded Genetic Code as a Route to Change the Basic Chemistry of Life

Our mission is to create artificial biodiversity by applying a bold mix of experimental, chemical, biophysical and biological methods. Our motivations are:

1. push the boundaries of life’s chemical composition and biochemical principles, and to ultimately understanding life’s origins.
2. to develop bio-based and bio-inspired technologies that benefit society.

Our approach integrates bioorthogonal chemistry, directed evolution of enzymes, the adaptation and cultivation of cell populations, and the exploration of chemical models. These elements define our core research areas:

1. Synthetic Biology & Xenobiology:
   • Creation of orthogonal biological systems with genetic firewall.
   • Development of synthetic metabolism and reprogrammed genetic codes to expand life's biochemical potential.
   • Ethical, philosophical, and educational aspects of synthetic and xenobiology.
2. Genetic Code Reprogramming & Expansion:
   • Incorporation of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins.
   • Orthogonal systems for specialized protein translation.
   • Evolution of genetic code to create synthetic enzymes and organisms.
3. Protein and Proteome Engineering:
   • Engineering proteins for enhanced stability, folding, and function.
   • Biophysical studies of protein design and structural dynamics.
   • Integration of machine learning for directed evolution and gene library design.
4. Metabolic Engineering:
   • Designing synthetic metabolic pathways for specialized functions.
   • Enhancing organismal metabolism for biotechnology applications.

Further Reading: