Members of the Lippard laboratory studying macromolecular crystallography have explored the structure,  mechanisms and activity of bacterial multicomponent monooxygenases.

Methane monooxygenases are enzymes that occur in bacteria called methanotrophs.

The primary function of this enzyme is the hydroxylation of methane to methanol as the first step in methane metabolism.

Amy Rosenzweig determined the protein x-ray structure of the soluble form of methane monooxygenase (MMO) as Lippard's graduate student.
Lippard has used X-ray diffraction and a variety of other methods to study such compounds, greatly expanding our understanding of their structure and function.
MMO is vital to Earth's carbon cycle, and knowledge of its structure may help to develop clean technologies for methanol-based fuels.
Methane monoxygenases may also be useful for bioremediation.
Members of the Lippard laboratory studying macromolecular crystallography have explored the structure,  mechanisms and activity of bacterial multicomponent monooxygenases.
Methane monooxygenases are enzymes that occur in bacteria called methanotrophs.
The primary function of this enzyme is the hydroxylation of methane to methanol as the first step in methane metabolism.
Amy Rosenzweig determined the protein x-ray structure of the soluble form of methane monooxygenase (MMO) as Lippard's graduate student. Lippard has used X-ray diffraction and a variety of other methods to study such compounds, greatly expanding our understanding of their structure and function. MMO is vital to Earth's carbon cycle, and knowledge of its structure may help to develop clean technologies for methanol-based fuels. Methane monoxygenases may also be useful for bioremediation.
Stephen J. Lippard