Daan Ren

Degree: B.S., Nanjing University, China

Entered Group: Fall, 2016 (Chemistry program)

Research Projects: Mechanistic Studies of the Biosynthesis of Secondary Metabolites

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Group Publications:

Wang, S.-A.; Ko, Y.; Zheng, J.; Geng, Y.; Ren, D.; Ogasawara, Y.; Irani, S.; Zhang, Y.; Liu, H.-w. “Identification of the Formycin A Biosynthetic Gene Cluster from Streptomyces kaniharaensis Illustrates the Interplay Between Biological Pyrazolopyrimidine Formation and de novo Purine Biosynthesis.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2019, 141, 6127-6131. [NIHMSID 1021733]

Ren, D.; Wang, S.-A.; Ko, Y.; Geng, Y.; Ogasawara, Y.; Liu, H.-w. “Identification of the C-Glycoside Synthases during Biosynthesis of the Pyrazole-C-Nucleosides Formycin and Pyrazofurin.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 16512-16516. [PMC6911263]

Ren, D.; Ruszczycky, M. W.; Ko, Y.; Wang, S.-A.; Ogasawara, Y.; Kim, M.; Liu, H.-w. “Characterization of the Coformycin Biosynthetic Gene Cluster in Streptomyces kaniharaensis.” Proc. Natl. Aca. Sci. USA. 2020, 117, 10265-10270. [PMC7229688]

Ren, D.; Kim, M.; Wang, S.-A.; Liu, H.-w. “Identification of a Pyrrole Intermediate Which Undergoes C-Glycosidation and Autoxidation to Yield the Final Product in Showdomycin Biosynthesis.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 17148-17154. [PMC8292215]

Ren, D.; Lee, Y.-H.; Wang, S.-A.; Liu, H.-w. “Characterization of the Oxazinomycin Biosynthetic Pathway Revealing the Key Role of a Non-heme Iron-dependent Monooxygenase.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 10968-10977. [PMC9233086]

Lee, Y-H.; Ren, D.; Jeon, B-s.; Liu, H.-w. “S-Adenosylmethionine: More than Just a Methyl Donor.” Nat. Prod. Rep. 2023, 40, 1521-1549. [PMC10491745]

Zheng, Z.; Xiong, J.; Bu, J.; Ren, D.; Lee, Y.-H.; Yeh, Y.-C.; Lin, C.-I.; Parry, R.; Guo, Y.; Liu, H.-w. “Reconstitution of the Final Steps in the Biosynthesis of Valanimycin Reveals the Origin of its Characteristic Azoxy Moiety.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2024, 63, e202315844. [PMC10843709]

Ren, D.; Lee, Y.-H.; Liu, H.-w. “Expression, Purification and Characterization of Non-heme Iron-dependent Monooxygenase OzmD in Oxazinomycin Biosynthesis.” Meth. Enzymol. 2024, 704, 113-142.

Lee, Y-H.; Ren, D.; Chen. R.; Liu, X.; Engstrom, A.; Liu, H.-w. “Blasticidin S Biosynthesis Involves a Unique Interplay between a Radical SAM Dehydratase, a Transaminase and an ATP-Grasp Ligase in Order to Avoid a Futile Cycle.” ACS Catalysis 2025, 15, 2742-2749. [NIHMSID2055467]

Ma, B.; Lee, Y.-H.; Ruszczycky, M. W.; Ren, D.; Engstrom, A.; Liu, H.-w.; Tao, L. “EPR Characterization of the BlsE Substrate Radical Offers Insight into the Determinants of Reaction Outcome that Distinguish Radical SAM Dioldehydratases from Dehydrogenases.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, 4111-4119. [PMC11826333]

Zheng, Z.; Ren, D.; Ko, Y.; Liu, H.-w. “Revision of the Formycin A and Pyrazofurin Biosynthetic Pathways Reveals Specificity for D-Glutamic Acid and a Cryptic N-Acylation During Pyrazole Core Formation.” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025, 147, in press. [NIHMSID2067859]