Noah Lyons
- BcGSA Treasurer
- Research area(s): Mechanistic enzymology of flavin-dependent monooxygenases involved in pathogenesis and plant defense/growth
Education
Ph.D., Biochemistry, Virginia Tech, 2025 Expected
B.S., Chemistry, East Tennessee State University, 2020
Experience
- August 2020 – Present, Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Tech
- August 2018 – May 2020, Lead Tutor/Workshop Facilitator, TRIO Student Support Services, East Tennessee State University
The Department of Biochemistry Bruce M. Anderson Award, 2021
Graduate Student Research and Professional Development Grant, Virginia Tech, 2021
Cunningham Doctoral Fellowship, Virginia Tech, 2020
Ronald E. McNair Scholar, East Tennessee State University, 2019
Teaching Assistant for General Biochemistry I (BCHM 4115) 08/2021 – 12/2021
Teaching Assistant for Laboratory Problems in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (BCHM 4124) 01/2021 – 05/2021
My research focuses on the kinetic and structural characterization of flavin-dependent monooxygenases (FMOs), a large family of enzymes involved in organismal defense, xenobiotic detoxification, and natural products biosynthesis. In particular, I focus on FMOs from plants and food crops that are involved in growth, homeostasis, and defense from biotic and abiotic stressors. Additionally, I work on FMOs from pathogenic bacteria and fungi that are involved in the production of siderophores – iron-chelating molecules that acquire free iron from a host so that the pathogen may survive. I use enzyme kinetic methodologies, such as HPLC analysis, product detection assays, and stopped-flow spectroscopy, along with x-ray crystallography to determine the biochemical mechanisms of these diverse enzymes. The ultimate goal of my work is to understand how these enzymes perform their unique chemistry, so we may target them for agricultural and biomedical benefits.
Publications:
Lyons, N.S., Bogner, A.N., Tanner, J.T., Sobrado, P. “Kinetic and Structural Characterization of a Flavin-Dependent Putrescine N-Hydroxylase from Acinetobacter baumannii.” Biochemistry. 2022
Oral Presentations:
Southeast Enzyme Conference, Georgia State University, April 22, 2023. Oral Presentation. Lyons, N.S. (presenter), Sobrado, P. “Kinetic Characterization of the Auxin-Producing Flavin-Dependent Monooxygenase YUC10”
Poster Presentations:
Gordon Research Conference: Enzymes, Coenzymes, and Metabolic Pathways, Waterville Valley, NH, July 24-29, 2022. Poster Presentation. Lyons, N.S., Bogner, A.N., Tanner, J.T., Sobrado, P. “Kinetic and Structural Characterization of a Flavin-Dependent Putrescine N-Hydroxylase from Acinetobacter baumannii
Southeast Enzyme Conference, Georgia State University, April 23, 2022. Poster Presentation. Lyons, N.S. (presenter), Sobrado, P. “ Kinetic and Biochemical Characterization of the Arabidopsis thaliana Flavin Monooxygenase YUC10”
Midwest Enzyme Chemistry Conference, Virtual, October 23, 2021. Poster Presentation. Lyons, N.S. (presenter), Yang, J., Wencewicz, T., Sobrado, P. “Kinetic and Biochemical Characterization of the Putrescine Hydroxylase FbsI from Acinetobacter baumannii”
VaDDC Virtual Symposium, Virginia Tech, May 26-27, 2021. Poster Presentation. Lyons, N.S. (presenter), Reis, R.A.G., Vogelaar, N., Sobrado, P. “Preliminary Identification of Novel Inhibitors for the Aspergillus fumigatus Flavin-Dependent Monooxygenase Siderophore A (SidA)”
Appalachian Research Student Forum, Millennium Center at East Tennessee State University, April 20, 2020. Poster Presentation. Lyons, N.S. (presenter); Shilabin, A.G.; Ordway, G.A. “The Development of Novel PARP1 Inhibitors as a Potential New Class of Antidepressants”
Northeast Tennessee Symposium for the American Chemical Society, Eastman Chemical Company, October 2019. Poster Presentation. Lyons, N.S. (presenter); Michael, L.A.; Kalu, C.E; Shilabin, A.G. “Synthesis of 1,2,4-Oxadiazolidin-5-one Derivatives as Potential β-Lactamase Inhibitors