Match tier Confirmed
Presence Current · Arkansas
Last published 2026
Sources OpenAlex · ORCID
Refreshed 2026-10-05

Irosha N. Nawarathne

Affiliation confirmed via AI analysis of OpenAlex, ORCID, and web sources.

Professor and Director of Undergraduate Research

6 h-index 11 pubs 123 cited

  • Rifamycins
  • Bridged-Ring Compounds
  • Taxoids
  • Biocatalysis
  • Acyltransferases
  • Escherichia coli
  • Kinetics
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Paclitaxel
  • Taxus
  • Molecular Structure
  • Point Mutation
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Click Chemistry
  • Antibiotics, Antitubercular

Biography and Research Information

OverviewAI-generated summary

Irosha N. Nawarathne's research focuses on the biocatalytic modification of natural products, particularly taxanes, to develop precursors for next-generation drugs. Her work involves studying enzyme kinetics and substrate specificity, with recent investigations into acyltransferases that convey various acyl groups to taxane acceptors. Nawarathne has also explored the X-ray crystal structures of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase in complex with benzoxazinorifamycins. Her scholarship includes publications on generating single-stranded DNA circles and the analysis of rice bran oil for fatty acid compositions. She has collaborated with researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas State University.

Metrics

  • h-index: 6
  • Publications: 11
  • Citations: 123

Positions

  • Professor and Director of Undergraduate Research
    Lyon College Chemistry ORCID
  • Professor and Director of Undergraduate Research
    Lyon College ORCID

Selected Publications

  • Late-Stage Functionalization of the Rifamycin Core via Click Chemistry Toward New Antibacterial Derivatives (2026)
    Molecules DOI OpenAlex
  • Cover Feature: Biocatalytic and Regioselective Exchange of 2‐O‐Benzoyl for 2‐O‐(m‐Substituted)Benzoyl Groups to Make Precursors of Next‐Generation Paclitaxel Drugs (ChemCatChem 9/2024) (2024)
    ChemCatChem DOI OpenAlex
  • Biocatalytic and Regioselective Exchange of 2‐O‐Benzoyl for 2‐O‐(m‐Substituted)Benzoyl Groups to Make Precursors of Next‐Generation Paclitaxel Drugs (2024)
    ChemCatChem 10 citations DOI OpenAlex
  • Correction to “Alkenes, Brought to You in Familiar Faces” (2022)
    Journal of Chemical Education DOI OpenAlex
  • Alkenes, Brought to You in Familiar Faces (2022)
    Journal of Chemical Education 1 citation DOI OpenAlex
  • Facile analysis of rice bran oil to compare free unsaturated fatty acid compositions of parental and hybrid rice lines (2022)
    Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society 7 citations DOI OpenAlex
  • Generating single-stranded DNA circles with minimal resources (2021)
    MethodsX 2 citations DOI OpenAlex
  • CoA recycling by a benzoate coenzyme A ligase in cascade reactions with aroyltransferases to biocatalyze paclitaxel analogs (2020)
    Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 4 citations DOI OpenAlex
  • Introducing Diversity through an Organic Approach (2019)
    Journal of Chemical Education 10 citations DOI OpenAlex
  • X-ray Crystal Structures of the Escherichia coli RNA Polymerase in Complex with Benzoxazinorifamycins (2013)
    Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 54 citations DOI OpenAlex
  • Point Mutations (Q19P and N23K) Increase the Operational Solubility of a 2α-O-Benzoyltransferase that Conveys Various Acyl Groups from CoA to a Taxane Acceptor (2010)
    Journal of Natural Products 10 citations DOI OpenAlex
  • An N -Aroyltransferase of the BAHD Superfamily Has Broad Aroyl CoA Specificity in Vitro with Analogues of N -Dearoylpaclitaxel (2009)
    Journal of the American Chemical Society 34 citations DOI OpenAlex

View all publications on OpenAlex →

Collaboration Network

38 Collaborators 10 Institutions 1 Country

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