Professor Alexander Yakunin

Professor In Enzyme Discovery and Application

a.iakounine@bangor.ac.uk

+44 1248 388399

Professor Alexander Yakunin

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
1. Novel extremophilic enzymes from environmental metagenomes and genomes; 2. Enzyme applications in bioremediation (plastics/microplastics recycling); 3. Enzyme applications in biocatalysis (biosynthesis of polymer precursors); 4. Novel CRISPR-associated enzymes.

2025

  • Published
    Ma, H., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Lemak, S., Chernikova, T. N., Golyshina, O. V., Almendral, D., Ferrer, M., Golyshin, P. N. & Yakunin, A. F., 5 Jan 2025, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 481, p. 136540
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • E-pub ahead of print
    Choolaei, Z., Khusnutdinova, A. N., Skarina, T., Stogios, P., Diep, P., Lemak, S., Edwards, E. A., Savchenko, A. & Yakunin, A. F., 27 Mar 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ACS Chemical Biology.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • E-pub ahead of print
    Zayulina , K. S., Frolov, E. N., Stracke, C., Klyukina, A. A., Khusnutdinova, A., Stogios, P., Skarina, T., Yakunin, A., Golyshin, P., Siebers, B., Shugaeva, T. E. & Kublanov, I. V., 2 Apr 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Febs Journal.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2024

  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • E-pub ahead of print
    Khusnutdinova, A. N., Batyrova, K. A., Wang, P.-H., Flick, R., Edwards, E. A. & Yakunin, A. F., 16 Oct 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Methods in Enzymology. 708, p. 151-173 23 p.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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 print
    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. & 2 others, 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

  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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

  • Published
    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. & 2 others, Henry, C. S. & de Crecy-Lagard, V., 30 Aug 2022, In: mBio. e0163022.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    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

  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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

  • Published
    Diep, P., Mahadevan, R. & Yakunin, A. F., 15 Nov 2020, In: Analytical biochemistry. 609, p. 113836
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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

  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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

  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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. & 22 others, 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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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. & 1 others, Yakunin, A. F., 6 Nov 2018, In: Environmental Science and Technology. 52, 21, p. 12388-12401
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    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

  • Published
    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. & 1 others, Yakunin, A. F., Mar 2017, In: Scientific Reports. 7, 44103, 44103.
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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. & 7 others, 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

  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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

  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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
  • Published
    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

  • Published
    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. & 1 others, Ferrer, M., 17 Dec 2014, In: Environmental Microbiology. 17, 2, p. 332-345
    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
  • Published
    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

  • Published
    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. & 18 others, 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

  • Published
    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

  • 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 91¾«Æ·ºÚÁÏ³Ô¹Ï Innovation and Impact Award (Research Wales Innovation Funding). Value = £42,055

    1 Apr 2022 – 31 Mar 2023

    Activity: Other (Contributor)

  • 31/01/2022 – 09/08/2024 (Finished)

  • 01/12/2020 – 19/08/2023 (Finished)