Butcher Research Group – Discovering novel nematode natural products and exploring their role in chemical communication

Butcher Group 2026

In front of Scott Family Hall

Bhar, Prajapati, et al.

Check out our latest publication in ACS Chemical Biology!

Elbanna et al.

Check out our first foray into algal natural products in our recent publication in Natural Products and Bioprospecting!

Feng, et al.

Check out our paper in Nature Communications on the many genes that contribute to nemamide biosynthesis.

< >

Our lab discovers new natural products that target fundamental biological processes such as development, metabolism, and aging.

Natural Product Discovery

We are using new techniques in comparative metabolomics, activity-guided fractionation, and NMR spectroscopy to identify the chemical structures of new pheromones and hormones from nematodes.

Natural Product Biosynthesis

We are using CRISPR-Cas9, RNAi, comparative metabolomics, stable-isotope labeling, enzyme assays, and X-ray crystallography to discover how nematodes biosynthesize hormones and pheromones.

Natural Product Mechanism

We are using chemical probes, transgenic worm strains, and biological assays to investigate how hormones and pheromones affect the development and behavior of nematodes.