Dr Rafael Guimaraes da Silva

Dr Rafael Guimaraes da Silva

Senior Lecturer

Phone
+44 (0)1334 46 3496
Email
rgds@st-andrews.ac.uk

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Research areas

Enzymes catalyse virtually all chemical reactions in living organisms, making their rates compatible with life. These proteins (and sometimes RNAs) have evolved to utilize a range of strategies to achieve incredible rate enhancements in comparison with the corresponding non-catalysed reactions. The study of enzymatic mechanisms is fundamental to elucidate how enzymes work in physical and chemical terms, to guide the rational design of inhibitors, and to help engineer new activities. Here we apply techniques of biochemistry and physical organic chemistry to unravel the mechanisms of enzymatic reactions catalysed by bacterial enzymes important for pathogenic bacteria to survive and thrive, and by human enzymes important for cancer cells to survive and spread. Particular emphasis is given to transition-state structure and to the role of protein dynamics in energy barrier crossing. ÌýÌý

PhD supervision

  • LilyÌýBates
  • SoumiliÌýBiswas
  • AnnaÌýCarberry
  • MyriamÌýKabu

Selected publications

  • Open access
    Tang, P., Zickuhr, G. M., Dickson, A. L., Harding, C. J., Devi, S., Lebl, T., Harrison, D. J., da Silva, R. G. & Melo Czekster, C., 21 Nov 2025, In: ACS Chemical Biology. 20, 11, p. 2547–2553 7 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

  • Open access
    Pecaver, E., Zickuhr, G. M., Machado, T. F. G., Harrison, D. J. & da Silva, R. G., 18 Feb 2025, In: Biochemistry. 64, 4, p. 860-870 11 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Carberry, A. E., Das, T., Harrison, D., Hirschi, J. & da Silva, R. G., 12 Dec 2025, In: Biochemical Journal. 482, 24, p. 1897–1918 22 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Read, B., Mitchell, J. B. O. & da Silva, R. G., 6 Apr 2024, In: Communications Chemistry. 7, 13 p., 77.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Read, B., Cadzow, A., Alphey, M. S., Mitchell, J. B. O. & da Silva, R. G., 16 Jan 2024, In: Biochemistry. 63, 2, p. 230-240 11 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Carberry, A. E., Devi, S., Harrison, D. J. & da Silva, R. G., 2 Apr 2024, In: ChemBioChem. 25, 7, 10 p., e202400047.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Tang, P., Harding, C. J., Dickson, A., da Silva, R. G., Harrison, D. J. & Melo Czekster, C., 1 Mar 2024, In: ACS Catalysis. 14, 5, p. 3090-3102 13 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Open access
    Fisher, G., Pecaver, E., Read, B., Leese, S., Laing, E., Dickson, A., Melo Czekster, C. & da Silva, R. G., 2 Jun 2023, In: ACS Catalysis. 13, 11, p. 7669-7679 11 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • Machado, T. F. G. & da Silva, R. G., 5 Apr 2023, New experimental probes for enzyme specificity and mechanism. Richard, J. P. & Moran, G. (eds.). Amsterdam: Academic Press/Elsevier , p. 225-240 16 p. (Methods in enzymology; vol. 685).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  • Open access
    Devi, S., Carberry, A. E., Zickuhr, G. M., Dickson, A., Harrison, D. J. & da Silva, R. G., 5 Sept 2023, In: Biochemistry. 62, 17, p. 2658-2668 11 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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