Assistant Professor
| Office: | YEUNG-P5318 |
|---|---|
| Phone: | +852 3442-5648 |
| Email: | guangcai.xu@cityu.edu.hk |
| ORCID ID | 0000-0003-4074-5165 |
- Biocatalysis
- Enzymology
- Protein engineering
- Directed Evolution
- Natural Product Biosynthesis
Dr. Guangcai Xu received an integrated Master’s degree (MBioSci) with Honours in Biochemistry from the University of Liverpool (UK) in 2013 before working in industrial biocatalysis in China. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Biology from the University of Groningen (the Netherlands) in 2022 under the supervision of Prof. Gerrit J. Poelarends. Following his Ph.D., he returned to the UK to join the research group of Prof. Jason Micklefield as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Manchester. He was later awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship and continued his research at both the University of Manchester and Imperial College London. In August 2026, he joined the City University of Hong Kong as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry.
Dr. Xu’s research interests lie at the interface of chemistry and biology, with a focus on biocatalysis. His research aims to develop novel biocatalysts for the synthesis of bioactive molecules. His work spans enzyme discovery from natural product biosynthetic pathways, enzyme engineering through directed evolution, and the enzymatic synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant molecules. His current research encompasses three areas: (1) the discovery, characterization, and engineering of novel enzymes from natural product biosynthetic pathways; (2) the development of enzymes with synthetic utility through catalytic promiscuity and directed evolution; and (3) the development of chemoenzymatic and fully enzymatic cascades for the synthesis of pharmaceutically relevant molecules.
Positions Available
Highly motivated candidates, including Research Assistants, Ph.D. students, and postdoctoral researchers, are warmly invited to join our research group. Applicants should have a background in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, biocatalysis, or a related discipline. Candidates are also expected to possess excellent written and oral communication skills in English. To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter by email.
- P. Saha, G. Xu, D. Panda, D. Smith, W. L. Thong, L. Ward, L. Bering, S. Cuesta-Hoyos, S. A. Shepherd, J. Micklefield*, “Alternative Enzymatic Pathways to Penicillin Antibiotics” Nat. Commun., 2026, 17, 5891.
- H. Zhou, A. Kunzendorf, G. Xu, H. O. T. Frietema, A. M. W. H. Thunnissen, G. J. Poelarends*, “Engineering 2‐Deoxy‐D‐ribose‐5‐phosphate Aldolase for anti‐ and syn‐Selective Epoxidations of α,β‐Unsaturated Aldehydes.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202503054.
- D. Torri, L. Bering, L. R. L. Yates, S. M. Angiolini, G. Xu, S. Cuesta-Hoyos, S. A. Shepherd, J. Micklefield*, “Enzymatic Cascades for Stereoselective and Regioselective Amide Bond Assembly.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202422185.
- G. Xu, D. Torri, S. Cuesta-Hoyos, D. Panda, L. R. L. Yates, R. Zallot, K. Bian, D. Jia, A. I. Iorgu, C. Levy, S. A. Shepherd, J. Micklefield*, “Cryptic Enzymatic Assembly of Peptides Armed with β-Lactone Warheads.” Nat. Chem. Biol., 2024, 20, 1371-1379. Highlighted in research briefing (G. Xu, J. Micklefield, Nat. Chem. Biol., 2024, 20, 1256-1257).
- G. Xu, G. J. Poelarends*, “Unlocking New Reactivities in Enzymes by Iminium Catalysis.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202203613.
- G. Xu+, A. Kunzendorf+, M. Crotti, H. J. Rozeboom, A. M. W. H. Thunnissen, G. J. Poelarends*, “Gene Fusion and Directed Evolution to Break Structural Symmetry and Boost Catalysis by an Oligomeric C-C Bond-Forming Enzyme.” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2022, 61, e202113970 (Hot Paper, selected as Back Cover).
- A. Kunzendorf+, G. Xu+, J. J. H. van der Velde, H. J. Rozeboom, A. M. W. H. Thunnissen, G. J. Poelarends*, “Unlocking Asymmetric Michael Additions in an Archetypical Class I Aldolase by Directed Evolution.” ACS Catal. 2021, 11, 13236-13243 (co-first).
- G. Xu, M. Crotti, T. Saravanan, K. M. Kataja, G. J. Poelarends*, “Enantiocomplementary Epoxidation Reactions Catalyzed by an Engineered Cofactor-Independent Non-natural Peroxygenase.” Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2020, 59, 10374-10378.