David E. Cane

Vernon K. Krieble Professor of Chemistry; Professor of Biochemistry. Contributed to understanding of how polyketides, terpenes and vitamin B6 are synthesized in microorganisms. In research on terpene biosynthesis, established the mechanism of formation of a variety of cyclic sesquiterpenes and monoterpenes. Work led to the formulation of a unified stereochemical theory of sesquiterpene and monoterpene biosynthesis, in collaboration with Croteau. Demonstrated the use of mutant terpene synthases to generate abortive cyclization products whose structures shed light on the structure of reactive, otherwise cryptic intermediates. Determined, in collaboration with Christianson, the crystal structures of several terpene synthases, revealing how these catalysts work. In early studies of polyketide biosynthesis, Cane demonstrated the origin of the oxygen atoms of the macrolide antibiotic erythromycin and, simultaneously with Hutchinson, demonstrated the intact incorporation of polyketide chain elongation intermediates with the now widely used N-acetyl cysteamine derivatives. Parallel studies of monensin biosynthesis led to the formulation of a universal model of polyether biosynthesis. Collaborated with Khosla to interrogate the structure and mechanism of the assembly line synthase involved in erythromycin biosynthesis. Investigated the mechanism of formation of vitamin B6 in E. coli and established the role of two key enzymes in this surprisingly complex transformation. Co-edited Fighting Fascism in Europe. The World War II Letters of an American Veteran of the Spanish Civil War (Fordham University Press, 2003) based on letters written by his father to his mother while serving in the U.S. Army in World War II.