Professor Alexander Yakunin (Iakounine)

Office: Thoday Building, room S25

Email: a.iakounine@bangor.ac.uk

Tel: 01248 388399

Research focus: enzyme discovery, enzymology, enzyme applications

• PhD: Microbiology
  Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Moscow, 1987
• MSc: Molecular biology
  Moscow State University, 1978

2024

• PublishedA random mutagenesis screen enriched for missense mutations in bacterial effector proteins
  Urbanus, M. L., Zheng, T. M., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Banh, D., O'Connor Mount, H., Gupta, A., Stogios, P. J., Savchenko, A., Isberg, R. R., Yakunin, A. F. & Ensminger, A. W., 4 Sept 2024, In: G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics. 14, 9
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedAn Amino Acid Self-Regenerating Cell-Free Protein Synthesis System that Feeds on PLA Plastics, CO2, Ammonium, and α-ketoglutarate
  Nishikawa, S., Yu, W.-C., Jia, T. Z., He, M.-J., Khusnutdinova, A., Yakunin, A., Chiang, Y.-R., Fujishima, K. & Wang, P.-H., 17 May 2024, In: ACS Catalysis. 14, 10, p. 7696-7706
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedBiochemical plasticity of the Escherichia coli CRISPR Cascade revealed by in vitro reconstitution of Cascade activities from purified Cas proteins
  Lemak, S., Brown, G., Makarova, K. S., Koonin, E. V. & Yakunin, A., 2024, In: Febs Journal. p. 1-18 18 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedModerately thermostable GH1 β-glucosidases from hyperacidophilic archaeon Cuniculiplasma divulgatum S5
  Khusnutdinova, A., Hai, T., Devlekar, S., Distaso, M., Kublanov, I. V., Skarina, T., Stogios, P., Savchenko, A., Ferrer, M., Golyshina, O., Yakunin, A. & Golyshin, P., Sept 2024, In: Fems Microbiology Ecology. 100, 9, fiae114.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedNi(II)-binding affinity of CcNikZ-II and its homologs: the role of the HH-prong and variable loop revealed by structural and mutational studies
  Diep, P., Stogios, P. J., Evdokimova, E., Savchenko, A., Mahadevan, R. & Yakunin, A. F., Jul 2024, In: Febs Journal. 291, 13, p. 2980-2993 14 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• E-pub ahead of printScaling-up Engineering Biology for Enhanced Environmental Solutions
  Hassard, F., Curtis, T. P., Dotro, G. C., Golyshin, P., Gutierrez, T., Heaven, S., Horsfall, L., Jefferson, B., Jones, D. L., Krasnogor, N., Kumar, V., Lea-Smith, D. J., Le Corre Pidou, K., Liu, Y., Lyu, T., McCarthy, R. R., McKew, B., Smith, C., Yakunin, A., Yang, Z., Zhang, Y. & Coulon, F., 21 Jun 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ACS synthetic biology. 13, 6, p. 1586-1588 3 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2023

• PublishedCRISPR-induced DNA reorganization for multiplexed nucleic acid detection
  Karlikow, M., Amalfitano, E., Yang, X., Doucet, J., Chapman, A., Sadat-Moussavi, P., Homme, P., Sutyrina, P., Chang, W., Lemak, S., Yakunin, A., Dolezal, A. G., Kelley, S., Foster, L., Harpur, B. & Pardee, K., 17 Mar 2023, In: Nature Communications. 14, 1, 1505.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedHarnessing extremophilic carboxylesterases for applications in polyester depolymerisation and plastic waste recycling
  Williams, G., Ma, H., Khusnutdinova, A., Yakunin, A. & Golyshin, P., Aug 2023, In: Essays in Biochemistry. 67, 4, p. 715-729 15 p., EBC20220255.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
• PublishedOne-pot chemo-enzymatic synthesis and one-step recovery of length-variable long-chain polyphosphates from microalgal biomass
  Lin, Y.-H., Nishikawa, S., Jia, T. Z., Yeh, F.-I., Khusnutdinova, A., Yakunin, A., Fujishima, K. & Wang, P.-H., 27 Oct 2023, In: Green Chemistry. 23
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedQuantifying metal-binding specificity of CcNikZ-II from Clostridium carboxidivorans in the presence of competing metal ions
  Diep, P., Kell, B., Yakunin, A., Hilfinger, A. & Mahadevan, R., 1 Sept 2023, In: Analytical biochemistry. 676, 115182.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedStructural insights into hydrolytic defluorination of difluoroacetate by microbial fluoroacetate dehalogenases
  Khusnutdinova, A. N., Batyrova, K., Brown, G., Fedorchuck, T., Chai, Y. S., Skarina, T., Flick, R., Petit, A.-P., Savchenko, A., Stogios, P. & Yakunin, A., Oct 2023, In: Febs Journal. 290, 20, p. 4966-4983 18 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedThermophilic Carboxylesterases from Hydrothermal Vents of the Volcanic Island of Ischia Active on Synthetic and Biobased Polymers and Mycotoxins
  Distaso, M., Chernikova, T., Bargiela, R., Coscolín, C., Stogios, P. J., Gonzalez-Alfonso, J. L., Lemak, S., Khusnutdinova, A., Plou, F. J., Evdokimova, E., Savchenko, A., Lunev, E., Yakimov, M. M., Golyshina, O., Ferrer, M., Yakunin, A. & Golyshin, P., 28 Feb 2023, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 89, 2, p. e0170422 20 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2022

• PublishedMetabolite Damage and Damage-Control in a Minimal Genome
  Haas, D., Thamm, A. M., Sun, J., Huang, L., Sun, L., Beaudoin, G. A. W., Wise, K. S., Lema-Ortiz, C., Bruner, S. D., Breuer, M., Luthey-Schutten, Z., Lin, J., Wilson, M. A., Brown, G., Yakunin, A., Kurilyak, I., Folz, J., Fiehn, O., Glass, J. I., Hanson, A. D., Henry, C. S. & de Crecy-Lagard, V., 30 Aug 2022, In: mBio. e0163022.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedSystems engineering of Escherichia coli for n-butane production
  Liu, Y., Khusnutdinova, A., Chen, J., Crisante, D., Batyrova, K., Raj, K., Feigis, M., Shirzadi, E., Wang, X., Dorakhan, R., Wang, X., Stogios, P. J., Yakunin, A. F., Sargent, E. H. & Mahadevan, R., 1 Nov 2022, In: Metabolic Engineering. 74, p. 98-107 10 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2021

• PublishedLignin-oxidizing activity of bacterial laccases characterized using soluble substrates and polymeric lignin
  Choolaei, Z., Flick, R., Khusnutdinova, A., Edwards, E. A. & Yakunin, A. F., 10 Jan 2021, In: Journal of Biotechnology. 325, p. 128-137 10 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedStructural and biochemical insights into CRISPR RNA processing by the Cas5c ribonuclease SMU1763 from Streptococcus mutans
  Lemak, S., Serbanescu, M. A., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Ruszkowski, M., Beloglazova, N., Xu, X., Brown, G., Cui, H., Tan, K., Joachimiak, A., Cvitkovitch, D. G., Savchenko, A. & Yakunin, A., Nov 2021, In: Journal of Biological Chemistry. 297, 5, 101251.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2020

• PublishedA microplate screen to estimate metal-binding affinities of metalloproteins
  Diep, P., Mahadevan, R. & Yakunin, A. F., 15 Nov 2020, In: Analytical biochemistry. 609, p. 113836
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedOne-pot biocatalytic transformation of adipic acid to 6-aminocaproic acid and 1,6-hexamethylenediamine using carboxylic acid reductases and transaminases
  Fedorchuk, T. P., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Evdokimova, E., Flick, R., Di Leo, R., Stogios, P. J., Savchenko, A. & Yakunin, A., 15 Jan 2020, In: Journal of the American Chemical Society. 142, 2, p. 1038-1048 11 p.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedProteome cold-shock response in the extremely acidophilic archaeon, Cuniculiplasma divulgatum
  Bargiela, R., Lanthaler, K., Potter, C., Ferrer, M., Yakunin, A., Paizs, B., Golyshin, P. & Golyshina, O., 19 May 2020, In: Microorganisms . 8, 5
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2019

• PublishedPrenylated FMN: biosynthesis, purification, and Fdc1 activation
  Khusnutdinova, A. N., Xiao, J., Wang, P.-H., Batyrova, K., Flick, R., Edwards, E. & Yakunin, A., 2019, New Approaches for Flavin Catalysis. Palfey, B. A. (ed.). Elsevier, Vol. 620. p. 469-488 (Methods in Enzymology).
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
• PublishedSite-directed mutagenesis and stability of the carboxylic acid reductase MAB4714 from Mycobacterium abscessus
  Fedorchuk, T. P., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Flick, R. & Yakunin, A., 10 Sept 2019, In: Journal of Biotechnology. 303, p. 72-79
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2018

• PublishedBiosynthesis and activity of prenylated FMN cofactors
  Wang, P.-H., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Luo, F., Xiao, J., Nemr, K., Flick, R., Brown, G., Mahadevan, R., Edwards, E. & Yakunin, A., 17 May 2018, In: Cell Chemical Biology. 25, 5, p. 560-570
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedDeterminants and prediction of esterase substrate promiscuity patterns
  Martínez-Martínez, M., Coscolín, C., Santiago, G., Chow, J., Stogios, P. J., Bargiela, R., Gertler, C., Navarro-Fernández, J., Bollinger, A., Thies, S., Méndez-García, C., Popovic, A., Brown, G., Chernikova, T., García-Moyano, A., Bjerga, G. E. K., Perez-Garcia, P., Hai, T., del Pozo, M. V., Stokke, R., Steen, I. H., Cui, H., Xu, X., Nocek, B., Alcaide, M., Disasto, M., Mesa, V., Pelaez, A. I., Sanchez, J., Buchholz, P. C. F., Pleiss, J., Fernández-Guerra, A., Glockner, F. O., Golyshina, O., Yakimov, M. M., Savchenko, A., Jaeger, K.-E., Yakunin, A. F., Streit, W. R., Golyshin, P., Guallar, V. & Ferrer, M., 2018, In: ACS Chemical Biology. 13, 1, p. 225-234
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedEngineering a short, aldolase based pathway for (R)-1,3-butanediol production in Escherichia coli
  Nemr, K., Muller, J., Joo, J. C., Gawand, P., Cjoudhary, R., Mendonca, B., Lu, S., Yu, X., Yakunin, A. & Mahadevan, R., 1 Jul 2018, In: Metabolic Engineering. 48, p. 13-24
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedHeavy metal removal by bioaccumulation using genetically engineered microorganisms
  Diep, P., Mahadevan, R. & Yakunin, A., 29 Oct 2018, In: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. 6, 157.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedRelationships between Substrate Promiscuity and Chiral Selectivity of Esterases from Phylogenetically and Environmentally Diverse Microorganisms
  Coscolín, C., Martínez-Martínez, M., Chow, J., Bargiela, R., García-Moyano, A., Bjerga, G. E. K., Bollinger, A., Stokke, R., Steen, I. H., Golyshina, O., Yakimov, M. M., Jaeger, K.-E., Yakunin, A. F., Streit, W. R., Golyshin, P. & Ferrer, M., 5 Jan 2018, In: Catalysts. 8, 1, 10.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedScreening and Characterization of Novel Polyesterases from Environmental Metagenomes with High Hydrolytic Activity against Synthetic Polyesters
  Hajighasemi, M., Tchigvintsev, A., Nocek, B., Flick, R., Popovic, A., Hai, T., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Brown, G., Xu, X., Cui, H., Anstett, J., Chernikova, T., Bruls, T., Le Paslier, D., Yakimov, M. M., Joachimiak, A., Golyshina, O., Savchenko, A., Golyshin, P., Edwards, E. A. & Yakunin, A. F., 6 Nov 2018, In: Environmental Science and Technology. 52, 21, p. 12388-12401
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedStructural Insights into Substrate Selectivity and Activity of Bacterial Polyphosphate Kinases
  Nocek, B. P., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Ruszkowski, M., Flick, R., Burda, M., Batyrova, K., Brown, G., Mucha, A., Joachimiak, A., Berlicki, L. & Yakunin, A. F., 2 Nov 2018, In: ACS Catalysis. 8, 11, p. 10746-10760
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2017

• PublishedActivity screening of environmental metagenomic libraries reveals novel carboxylesterase families
  Popovic, A., Hai, T., Tchigvintsev, A., Hajighasemi, M., Nocek, B., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Brown, G., Glinos, J., Flick, R., Skarina, T., Chernikova, T., Yim, V., Bruls, T., Le Paslier, D., Yakimov, M. M., Joachimiak, A., Ferrer, M., Golyshina, O., Savchenko, A., Golyshin, P. & Yakunin, A. F., Mar 2017, In: Scientific Reports. 7, 44103, 44103.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedAlkene hydrogenation activity of enoate reductases for an environmentally benign biosynthesis of adipic acid
  Joo, J. C., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Flick, R., Kim, T., Bornscheuer, U. T., Yakunin, A. F. & Mahadevan, R., 1 Feb 2017, In: Chemical Science. 8, 2, p. 1406-1413
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedMetabolic and evolutionary patterns in the extremely acidophilic archaeon Ferroplasma acidiphilum YT
  Golyshina, O., Hai, T., Reva, O. N., Lemak, S., Yakunin, A. F., Goesmann, A., Nechitaylo, T. Y., LaCono, V., Smedile, F., Slesarev, A., Rojo, D., Barbas, C., Ferrer, M., Yakimov, M. M. & Golyshin, P., 16 Jun 2017, In: Scientific Reports. 7, 3682.
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedSAMHD1 is a biomarker for cytarabine response and a therapeutic target in acute myeloid leukemia
  Schneider, C., Oellerich, T., Baldauf, H.-M., Schwarz, S.-M., Thomas, D., Flick, R., Bohnenberger, H., Kaderali, L., Stegmann, L., Cremer, A., Martin, M., Lohmeyer, J., Michaelis, M., Hornung, V., Schliemann, C., Berdel, W. E., Hartmann, W., Wardelmann, E., Comoglio, F., Hansmann, M.-L., Yakunin, A. F., Geisslinger, G., Stroebel, P., Ferreiros, N., Serve, H., Keppler, O. T. & Cinatl, J. J., Feb 2017, In: Nature Medicine. 23, 2, p. 250-255
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2016

• PublishedA family of metal-dependent phosphatases implicated in metabolite damage-control
  Huang, L., Khusnutdinova, A., Nocek, B., Brown, G., Xu, X., Cui, H., Petit, P., Flick, R., Zallot, R., Balmant, K., Ziemak, M. J., Shanklin, J., de Crecy-Lagard, V., Fiehn, O., Gregory, J. F. ,. I., Joachimiak, A., Savchenko, A., Yakunin, A. F. & Hanson, A. D., Aug 2016, In: Nature Chemical Biology. 12, 8, p. 621-627
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedBiochemical and structural insights into enzymatic depolymerization of polylactic acid and other polyesters by microbial carboxylesterases
  Hajighasemi, M., Nocek, B. P., Tchigvintsev, A., Brown, G., Flick, R., Xu, X., Cui, H., Hai, T., Joachimiak, A., Golyshin, P., Savchenko, A., Edwards, E. A. & Yakunin, A. F., 18 Apr 2016, In: Biomacromolecules. 17, 6, p. 2027-2039
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2015

• PublishedCRISPR RNA binding and DNA target recognition by purified Cascade complexes from Escherichia coli
  Beloglazova, N., Kuznedelov, K., Flick, R., Datsenko, K. A., Brown, G., Popovic, A., Lemak, S., Semenova, E., Severinov, K. & Yakunin, A. F., Jan 2015, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 43, 1, p. 530-543
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedDiversity of hydrolases from hydrothermal vent sediments of the Levante Bay, Vulcano Island (Aeolian archipelago) identified by activity-based metagenomics and biochemical characterization of new esterases and an arabinopyranosidase
  Placido, A., Hai, T., Ferrer, M., Chernikova, T. N., Distaso, M. A., Armstrong, D., Yakunin, A. F., Toshchakov, S. V., Yakimov, M. M., Kublanov, I. V., Golyshina, O., Pesole, G., Ceci, L. R. & Golyshin, P., 1 Dec 2015, In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 99, 23, p. 10031-10046
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedIdentification and characterization of carboxyl esterases of gill chamber-associated microbiota in the deep-sea shrimp Rimicaris exoculata using functional metagenomics
  Alcaide, M., Tchigvinstsev, A., Martinez-Martinez, M., Popovic, A., Reva, O. N., Lafraya, A., Bargiela, R. N., Nechitaylo, T. Y., Matesanz, R., Cambon-Bonavita, M., Jebbar, M., Savchenko, A., Yakimov, M. M., Golyshina, O., Yakunin, A. F., Golyshin, P., Ferrer, M. & The MAMBA Consortium., [. V., 16 Jan 2015, In: Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 81, 6, p. 2125-2136
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedMetagenomics as a tool for enzyme discovery: hydrolytic enzymes from marine-related metagenomes
  Popovic, A., Tchigvintsev, A., Tran, H., Chernikova, T. N., Golyshina, O. V., Yakimov, M. M., Golyshin, P. N. & Yakunin, A. F., 2015, Prokaryotic Systems Biology. Springer, p. 1-20 20 p.
  Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
• PublishedThe environment shapes microbial enzymes: five cold-active and salt-resistant carboxylesterases from marine metagenomes
  Tchigvintsev, A., Tran, H., Popvic, A., Kovacic, F., Brown, G., Flick, R., Hajighasemi, M., Egorova, O., Somody, J. C., Tchigvintsev, D., Khusnutdinova, A., Chernikova, T. N., Golyshina, O., Yakimov, M. M., Savchenko, A., Golyshin, P., Jaeger, K. E. & Yakunin, A. F., 1 Mar 2015, In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 99, 5, p. 2165-2178
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2014

• PublishedPressure adaptation is linked to thermal adaptation in salt-saturated marine habitats
  Alcaide, M., Stogios, P. J., Lafraya, A., Tchigvintsev, A., Flick, R., Bargiela, R., Chernikova, T. N., Reva, O. N., Hai, T., Leggewie, C. C., Katzke, N., La Cono, V., Matesanz, R., Jebbar, M., Jaeger, K., Yakimov, M. M., Yakunin, A. F., Golyshin, P. N., Golyshina, O. V., Savchenko, A. & Ferrer, M., 17 Dec 2014, In: Environmental Microbiology. 17, 2, p. 332-345
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
• PublishedThe CRISPR-associated Cas4 protein Pcal_0546 from Pyrobaculum calidifontis contains a [2Fe-2S] cluster: crystal structure and nuclease activity
  Lemak, S., Nocek, B., Beloglazova, N., Skarina, T., Flick, R., Brown, G., Joachimiak, A., Savchenko, A. & Yakunin, A. F., 29 Sept 2014, In: Nucleic Acids Research. 42, 17, p. 11144-11155
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2013

• PublishedGenome sequence and functional genomic analysis of the oil-degrading bacterium Oleispira antarctica
  Golyshina, O., Hai, T., Kube, M., Chernikova, T. N., Al-Ramahi, Y., Beloqui, A., Lopez-Cortez, N., Guazzaroni, M. E., Heipieper, H. J., Klages, S., Kotsyurbenko, O. R., Langer, I., Nechitaylo, T. Y., Lünsdorf, H., Fernández, M., Juárez, S., Ciordia, S., Singer, A., Kagan, O., Egorova, O., Petit, P. A., Stogios, P., Kim, Y., Tchigvintsev, A., Flick, R., Denaro, R., Genovese, M., Albar, J. P., Reva, O. N., Martínez-Gomariz, M., Tran, H., Ferrer, M., Savchenko, A., Yakunin, A. F., Yakimov, M. M., Golyshina, O. V., Reinhardt, R. & Golyshin, P. N., 23 Jul 2013, In: Nature Communications. 4, p. 2156
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2012

• PublishedStructure and activity of the cold-active and anion-activated carboxyl esterase OLEI01171 from the oil-degrading marine bacterium Oleispira antarctica
  Lemak, S., Tchigvintsev, A., Petit, P., Flick, R., Singer, A. U., Brown, G., Evdokimova, E., Egorova, O., Gonzalez, C. F., Chernikova, T. N., Yakimov, M. M., Kube, M., Reinhardt, R., Golyshin, P. N., Savchenko, A. & Yakunin, A. F., 15 Jul 2012, In: Biochemical Journal. 445, 2, p. 193-203
  Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2022

• BU-IIA Funded Project: Exploring technology transfer options for microbial bioaugmentation of anaerobic waste biomass conversion to biogas

  The overarching aim of this application is to build on our current work on the EU SYNBIOGAS project which is developing engineered microbial communities to enhance waste biomass conversion to biomass. This proposal, which will fund additional plant-scale bioaugmentation of anaerobic digestion processes and techno-economic assessment of the bioprocess, enables us to increase our research activity at TRL6 and build a roadmap for technology adoption by our industrial partners. The project will facilitate applications for follow-on-funding, generate REF-relevant impact and provide possibilities for commercialisation. The project aligns directly with the University’s Strategy 2030 and the RWIF strategic priorities. 

  Funding awarded through the Bangor University Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = £42,055

  1 Apr 2022 – 31 Mar 2023

  Activity: Other (Contributor)

• 21ENGBIO: Polyphosphate-based synthetic pathway (PSP) for bioconversion of isopentenols to isoprenoid precursors using recombinant cell lysates

  31/01/2022 – 09/08/2024 (Finished)

• Discovery of novel thermostable hydrolases from archaea of the Kuril-Kamchatka region

  01/12/2020 – 19/08/2023 (Finished)