Michael P. Hendrich

Professor, Chemistry

Education

Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1988

Research

Keywords: Spectroscopy, biophysical chemistry, enzymatic mechanisms, bioinorganic chemistry, metalloenzymes

Projects

Metalloproteins are essential for the basic processes of life, including DNA synthesis, metabolism, photosynthesis, detoxification, and the chemical transformations of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon molecules required for life. Many diseases are due to metal imbalances or inactivity of critical metalloenzymes. Metalloenzymes are nature’s amazing catalytic centers, transforming the most stable chemical bonds in nature, and thus are important factors for health, agriculture, and the environment.

Our focus is an atomic level understanding of catalytic function. We achieved this through isolation and spectroscopic characterization of intermediates of reaction cycles of enzymes and biomimetic complexes. The metals of interest are probed with a combination of EPR, ENDOR, Mössbauer spectroscopies, or SQUID magnetization. We have developed new spectroscopic instrumentation, computer simulation software, and quantitative methodologies specifically suited to probe metalloproteins and metal complexes.

Publications

The Full List of Publications

Appointments

Years	Position
2008–present	Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
1999–2008	Associate Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
1994–1999	Assistant Professor, Carnegie Mellon University
1993–1994	Assistant Research Professor, University of Minnesota

Awards and Distinctions

Years	Award
1995	Searle Scholar Award