The Carroll group in the Life Sciences Institute and the Department of Chemistry at the University of Michigan integrates biochemistry, organic chemistry, and chemical biology approaches to address problems relevant to human health and disease.

Our research has two major focuses: Microbial sulfur metabolism and oxidation biology. In the host-pathogen arena, we are investigating sulfur metabolic pathways that allow Mycobacteria to persist in the human host. Our efforts in oxidation biology are directed at developing new chemical tools to identify and study post-translational modifications associated with cellular redox signaling and oxidative stress.

A hallmark of our program is the ability to make new molecules and use them for a targeted function. This philosophy allows students and postdocs in the group to take their own chemistry-based projects all the way to the biological finish line. We synthesize a variety of molecules ranging from activity-based chemical probes, small-molecule inhibitors, non-natural peptides, and also use directed evolution to generate novel catalysts. In turn, we apply a variety of biological, structural, and spectroscopic techniques to evaluate the properties and capabilities of newly synthesized molecules and catalysts in living cells.