Dr. Squire Booker

Biography

Squire J. Booker is an Emeritus Evan Pugh University Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the Pennsylvania State University. His work primarily focuses on elucidating the chemical mechanisms by which enzymes containing iron-sulfur clusters catalyze chemical reactions. Ongoing projects deal with members of the Radical S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) Superfamily, a diverse group of enzymes that employ radical chemistry to catalyze transformations involved in post-transcriptional and post-translational modifications, cofactor biosynthesis, and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. His laboratory employs an array of biochemical, analytical, structural, and spectroscopic techniques to characterize the intricate and intriguing reaction mechanisms employed by these remarkable enzymes, providing significant insights into applications for human health and disease while deepening the understanding of fundamental nature. Throughout his career, Booker has received numerous appointments and honors, including being elected to the National Academy of Sciences and serving as a Howard Hughes Medical Investigator. His extensive research output and dedication to science have established him as an influential figure in the field of biochemistry, particularly in relation to enzyme function and radical reactions.

Research Interests