Our Research
Welcome to Aron Laboratory at the University of Denver! Our laboratory is committed to exploring new frontiers in chemical sciences. Our team of dedicated researchers and students work to unravel the mysteries of the natural world and develop innovative solutions to real-world problems.
The demand for rare earth elements (REEs), such as lanthanides, scandium, and yttrium, is growing due to their importance in technologies like electric cars and modern electronics. Current methods for extracting these metals are energy-intensive and environmentally harmful, but biological systems have evolved strategies for selective REE recognition. Various phyllosphere and rhizosphere bacteria use small molecules, called metallophores, to scavenge and incorporate REEs into enzymes. Our laboratory leverages mass spectrometry, natural product chemistry, and bioinorganic chemistry to study the molecular mechanisms behind metal uptake and selectivity by these metallophores. We aim to apply this knowledge to develop more sustainable methods for REE extraction, isolation, and recycling.
The human microbiome plays a critical role in health by influencing development, immune function, and nutrition, with metals like iron, copper, zinc, and cobalt being essential micronutrients for microbes. Microbes compete for these metals, shaping their community and functionality within the body, but the exact mechanisms of metal acquisition and competition in the human microbiome are not fully understood. Metallophores, small molecules that help microbes acquire metals, have been shown to play a role in this process, but their impact on microbe-microbe communication remains unclear. To address this, our laboratory develops advanced mass spectrometry methods to discover and characterize new metallophores in the human microbiome. The research could lead to the development of new antimicrobial therapies and microbiome modulation strategies.
