Welcome to the Butcher Research Group
Discovering novel nematode natural products and exploring their role in chemical communication
Our lab discovers new natural products that target fundamental biological processes such as development, metabolism, and aging.
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 Discovery
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 Biosynthesis
We are using chemical probes, transgenic worm strains, and biological assays to investigate how hormones and pheromones affect the development and behavior of nematodes.
Natural Product Mechanism