R. Schnell
Papers
1
Total Citations
69
H-Index
1
About
R. Schnell is a structural biologist whose research focuses on the enzymology and metabolic pathways of *Mycobacterium tuberculosis*, particularly those essential for the bacterium’s survival in its dormant state. Her most cited work, the 2008 paper “Cysteine Synthase (CysM) of *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* Is an *O*-Phosphoserine Sulfhydrylase,” has garnered 69 citations and represents a major contribution to understanding cysteine biosynthesis in this pathogen. Schnell demonstrated that CysM functions as an *O*-phosphoserine sulfhydrylase, a key enzyme that not only supplies cysteine for protein synthesis but also provides reduced thiols critical for oxidative defense—a pathway especially vital during *M. tuberculosis* latency. This discovery has implications for developing novel anti-tuberculosis drugs targeting dormant bacteria. Her work is notable for combining structural and biochemical approaches to unravel unique enzymatic mechanisms in mycobacteria. Schnell’s research continues to illuminate how *M. tuberculosis* adapts to host environments, making her a significant figure in tuberculosis biology and antimicrobial target discovery.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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