Shalley Kudalkar

Shalley joined the Goodwin laboratory in June 2008. She has taken up two projects. The first is to determine the role of the FG interhelical insertion in giving catalase-peroxidases their striking bifunctional capabilities. We have observed in the past that removal of this entire loop leaves KatG peroxidase activity comparable to wild type. However, there is little if any catalase activity. The mechanism by which this structure specifically supports catalase activity is not known. Shalley has produced a series of KatG variants that are providing important insight into the unique mechanism by which the insertion imparts catalase activity. Shalley is also working on producing KatG proteins amenable to x-ray structure determination.