title: Rings, radicals, and regeneration: the early years of a bioorganic laboratory.
abstract: This Perspective provides an overview of the progress in two of the original programs in my research group focused on the biosynthesis of the antibiotics nisin, lacticin 481, fosfomycin, and bialaphos. The path from start-up funds to tenure and beyond offers insights into the opportunities realized and missed along the road.
authors.affiliation: Roger Adams Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA. vddonk@uiuc.edu
authors.forename: Wilfred A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: van der Donk
mesh_terms: D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005578:Fosfomycin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009561:Nisin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012106:Research / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D012107:Research Design; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D001430:Bacteriocins; D005609:Free Radicals; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; C082508:lacticin 481; D009561:Nisin; D005578:Fosfomycin; C003122:bialaphos