Department of Chemistry
A headshot

Tadhg Begley
Distinguished Professor
Robert A. Welch Foundation Chair
Derek Barton Professor in Chemistry

Contact
Department of Chemistry
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-3255

P: 979-862-4091
F: 979-845-4719
begley@chem.tamu.edu

Researcher ID

Current Activities

The Begley Group is interested in the mechanistic chemistry and enzymology of complex organic transformations, particularly those found on the vitamin biosynthetic pathways. We are currently working on the biosynthesis of thiamin, molybdopterin, pyridoxal phosphate and menaquinone. Our research involves a combination of molecular biology, protein biochemistry, organic synthesis and structural studies and provides a strong training for students interested in understanding the organic chemistry of living systems and in pursuing careers in biotechnology, drug design or academia.

Thiamin pyrophosphate plays a key role in the stabilization of the acyl carbanion synthon in carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. The biosyntheses of the thiamin pyrimidine and thiazole are complex and are different from any of the characterized chemical or biochemical routes to these heterocycles. We are particularly interested in cellular physiology and the mechanistic enzymology of thiamin biosynthesis. As an example of one of the complex transformations on this pathway, the figure below shows the structure of the pyrimidine synthase catalyzing the complex rearrangement of aminoimidazole ribotide (left) to the thiamin pyrimidine (right).

Educational Background

B.S., 1977, National University of Ireland

Ph. D., 1983, California Institute of Technology

Awards & Recognition

  • Merck Faculty Development Award
  • NIH MERIT Award
  • Elected AAAS Fellow
  • Honorary D.Sc. National University of Ireland (Dublin)
  • Distinguished Professor of Chemistry
  • Distinguished Professor, Texas A&M University

Selected Publications

  • BOOK: The Organic Chemistry of Biological Pathways by John McMurry and Tadhg Begley.
  • BOOK: Encyclopedia of Chemical Biology, Volumes 1-4, (2009), Edited by Tadhg P. Begley
  • BOOK: Cofactor Chemistry, Volume 7 of Comprehensive Natural Products Chemistry, 2010. Edited by Tadhg P. Begley
  • Mehta, A. P.; Hanes, J. W.; Abdelwahed, S. H.; Hilmey, D. G.; Hanzelmann, P.; Begley, T. P.: Catalysis of a New Ribose Carbon-Insertion Reaction by the Molybdenum Cofactor Biosynthetic Enzyme MoaA. Biochemistry 2013, 52, 1134-1136
  • Mehta, A. P.; Abdelwahed, S. H.; Begley, T. P.: Molybdopterin Biosynthesis: Trapping an Unusual Purine Ribose Adduct in the MoaA-Catalyzed Reaction. Journal of the American Chemical Society 2013, 135, 10883-10885