Dr Simon Moore
Lecturer in Synthetic Biology
School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences
Queen Mary University of London
Queen Mary University of London
Research
Synthetic biology, Biosynthesis, Antimicrobial resistance, Cell-free systems, Gene expression, Enzymes
Interests
The Moore group specialises in cell-free synthetic biology and biosynthesis.Cell-free synthetic biology
We have developed several high-yielding (up to 4 mg/mL) cell-free systems for the rapid engineering of peptides, proteins and small molecules for infectious disease and agricultural applications. We are collaborating with Syngenta for the targeted development of bioactive compounds against crop diseases, as well as Professor Mark Sutton at UKHSA on a BBSRC funded “anticipate, learn and counter” themed project using cell-free systems to study antimicrobial resistance. Here we bridging a new interface between synthetic biology and infectious diseases, for the development of alternative antimicrobials and the study of AMR.
Engineering Biosynthesis
Second, we are interested in engineering biosynthesis for new-to-nature natural products for high-value chemicals and bioactive compounds, as well as the fundamental discovery of new chemical logic, mechanism, and the structural biology of uncharacterised enzymes in natural product biosynthesis. We are working on two evolutionary distinct pathways biosynthetic pathways for making modified indoles, with potential applications for natural medicines and pigments/dyes.
Publications
Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Molecular Cell Biology2023
Chengan K, Hind C, Stanley M, Wand ME, Nagappa LK, Howland K, Hanson T, Martín-Escolano R, Tsaousis AD, Bengoechea JA, Mark Sutton J, Smales CM and Moore SJ (2023). A cell-free strategy for host-specific profiling of intracellular antibiotic sensitivity and resistance. npj Antimicrobials and Resistance, Springer Nature vol. 1 (1) 18-12-2023
Moore SJ, Lai H-E, Li J and Freemont PS (2023). Streptomyces cell-free systems for natural product discovery and engineering. Natural Product Reports, Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) vol. 40 (2), 228-236. 01-01-2023
2022
Nagappa LK, Sato W, Alam F, Chengan K, Smales CM, Von Der Haar T, Polizzi KM, Adamala KP and Moore SJ (2022). A ubiquitous amino acid source for prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell-free transcription-translation systems. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Frontiers vol. 10 16-09-2022
Kennedy A, Griffin G, Freemont PS, Polizzi KM and Moore SJ (2022). A curcumin direct protein biosensor for cell‐free prototyping. Engineering Biology, Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) vol. 6 (2-3), 62-68. 01-06-2022
2021
Li J, Kwon Y-C, Lu Y and Moore SJ (2021). Editorial: Cell-Free Synthetic Biology. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Frontiers vol. 9 29-11-2021
Lai H-E, Obled AMC, Chee SM, Morgan RM, Lynch R, Sharma SV, Moore SJ, Polizzi KM, Goss RJM and Freemont PS (2021). GenoChemetic Strategy for Derivatization of the Violacein Natural Product Scaffold. ACS Chemical Biology, American Chemical Society (ACS) vol. 16 (11), 2116-2123. 14-10-2021
Toh M, Chengan K, Hanson T, Freemont PS and Moore SJ (2021). A High-Yield Streptomyces TX-TL Toolkit for Synthetic Biology and Natural Product Applications. Journal of Visualized Experiments, MyJove Corporation (175) 10-09-2021
Toh M, Chengan K, Hanson T, Freemont PS and Moore SJ (2021). A High-Yield Streptomyces Transcription-Translation Toolkit for Synthetic Biology and Natural Product Applications. Journal of Visualized Experiments, MyJove Corporation (175) 10-09-2021
Moore SJ, Tosi T, Bell D, Hleba YB, Polizzi KM and Freemont PS (2021). High-yield ‘one-pot’ biosynthesis of raspberry ketone, a high-value fine chemical. Synthetic Biology, Oxford University Press (OUP) vol. 6 (1) 20-08-2021
Moore SJ, Hleba YB, Bischoff S, Bell D, Polizzi KM and Freemont PS (2021). Correction to: Refactoring of a synthetic raspberry ketone pathway with EcoFlex. Microbial Cell Factories, Springer Nature vol. 20 (1) 18-08-2021
Biedendieck R, Knuuti T, Moore SJ and Jahn D (2021). The “beauty in the beast”—the multiple uses of Priestia megaterium in biotechnology. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Springer Nature vol. 105 (14-15), 5719-5737. 15-07-2021
Moore SJ, Hleba YB, Bischoff S, Bell D, Polizzi KM and Freemont PS (2021). Refactoring of a synthetic raspberry ketone pathway with EcoFlex. Microbial Cell Factories, Springer Nature vol. 20 (1) 10-06-2021
Moore SJ, Lai H-E, Chee S-M, Toh M, Coode S, Chengan K, Capel P, Corre C, de los Santos EL and Freemont PS (2021). A Streptomyces venezuelae Cell-Free Toolkit for Synthetic Biology. ACS Synthetic Biology, American Chemical Society (ACS) vol. 10 (2), 402-411. 26-01-2021
2020
Moore SJ, Lai H-E, Kelwick RJR, Chee SM, Bell DJ, Polizzi KM and Freemont PS (2020). Correction to EcoFlex: A Multifunctional MoClo Kit for E. coli Synthetic Biology. ACS Synthetic Biology, American Chemical Society (ACS) vol. 9 (5), 1225-1225. 17-04-2020
2019
Moore SJ (2019). Enzyme alchemy: cell-free synthetic biochemistry for natural products. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, Portland Press vol. 3 (5), 529-535. 04-09-2019
Lai H-E, Canavan C, Cameron L, Moore S, Danchenko M, Kuiken T, Sekeyová Z and Freemont PS (2019). Synthetic Biology and the United Nations. Trends in Biotechnology, Elsevier vol. 37 (11), 1146-1151. 27-06-2019
2018
Moore SJ, MacDonald JT, Wienecke S, Ishwarbhai A, Tsipa A, Aw R, Kylilis N, Bell DJ, McClymont DW, Jensen K, Polizzi KM, Biedendieck R and Freemont PS (2018). Rapid acquisition and model-based analysis of cell-free transcription–translation reactions from nonmodel bacteria. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences vol. 115 (19), e4340-e4349. 17-04-2018
Lai H-E, Moore S, Polizzi K and Freemont P (2018). EcoFlex: A Multifunctional MoClo Kit for E. coli Synthetic Biology. Synthetic Biology 429-444. 01-01-2018
2017
Moore SJ, MacDonald JT and Freemont PS (2017). Cell-free synthetic biology for in vitro prototype engineering. Biochemical Society Transactions, Portland Press vol. 45 (3), 785-791. 15-06-2017
Moore SJ, Sowa ST, Schuchardt C, Deery E, Lawrence AD, Ramos JV, Billig S, Birkemeyer C, Chivers PT, Howard MJ, Rigby SEJ, Layer G and Warren MJ (2017). Correction: Corrigendum: Elucidation of the biosynthesis of the methane catalyst coenzyme F430. Nature, Springer Nature vol. 545 (7652), 116-116. 01-05-2017
Moore SJ, Lai H, Needham H, Polizzi KM and Freemont PS (2017). Streptomyces venezuelae TX‐TL – a next generation cell‐free synthetic biology tool. Biotechnology Journal, Wiley vol. 12 (4) 24-02-2017
Moore SJ, Sowa ST, Schuchardt C, Deery E, Lawrence AD, Ramos JV, Billig S, Birkemeyer C, Chivers PT, Howard MJ, Rigby SEJ, Layer G and Warren MJ (2017). Elucidation of the biosynthesis of the methane catalyst coenzyme F430. Nature, Springer Nature vol. 543 (7643), 78-82. 22-02-2017
2016
Moore SJ, Lai H-E, Kelwick RJR, Chee SM, Bell DJ, Polizzi KM and Freemont PS (2016). EcoFlex: A Multifunctional MoClo Kit for E. coli Synthetic Biology. ACS Synthetic Biology, American Chemical Society (ACS) vol. 5 (10), 1059-1069. 02-05-2016
2015
Kopniczky MB, Moore SJ and Freemont PS (2015). Multilevel Regulation and Translational Switches in Synthetic Biology. IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Circuits and Systems, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) vol. 9 (4), 485-496. 01-08-2015
2014
Deery E, Frank S, Lawrence A, Moore S, Schroeder S and Warren MJ (2014). Synthetic Biology in Metabolic Engineering: From Complex Biochemical Pathways to Compartmentalized Metabolic Processes – a Vitamin Connection. Encyclopedia of Molecular Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine 1-47. 20-10-2014
Moore SJ, Mayer MJ, Biedendieck R, Deery E and Warren MJ (2014). Towards a cell factory for vitamin B12 production in Bacillus megaterium: bypassing of the cobalamin riboswitch control elements. New Biotechnology, Elsevier vol. 31 (6), 553-561. 20-03-2014
2013
Moore SJ, Lawrence AD, Biedendieck R, Deery E, Frank S, Howard MJ, Rigby SEJ and Warren MJ (2013). Elucidation of the anaerobic pathway for the corrin component of cobalamin (vitamin B12). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences vol. 110 (37), 14906-14911. 06-08-2013
2012
Moore SJ, Biedendieck R, Lawrence AD, Deery E, Howard MJ, Rigby SEJ and Warren MJ (2012). Characterization of the Enzyme CbiH60 Involved in Anaerobic Ring Contraction of the Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) Biosynthetic Pathway*. Journal of Biological Chemistry, Elsevier vol. 288 (1), 297-305. 15-11-2012
Moore SJ and Warren MJ (2012). The anaerobic biosynthesis of vitamin B12. Biochemical Society Transactions, Portland Press vol. 40 (3), 581-586. 22-05-2012
Grants
Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Molecular Cell BiologyA Cell-Free Toolbox to Anticipate, Learn and Counter Antimicrobial ResistanceSimon Moore and Roberto Buccafusca
£550,068 BBSRC Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (01-03-2024 - 28-02-2027)
How do bacteria transalte megasynthases for natural product biosynthesis-GRANT TRANSFERSimon Moore
£122,762 Leverhulme Trust (01-01-2023 - 30-08-2024)
An automated cell-free platform to study how antimicrobial resistance evolves in Klebsiella pneumoniae - Simon MooreSimon Moore
£35,466 Royal Society (01-03-2023 - 29-02-2024)