Robert Morris University - Chemistry & Biochemistry
Assistant Professor at Saint Vincent College
Higher Education
Matt
Hillwig
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
My research involves protein characterization and organic structure determination of terpenoids to elucidate gene function, using analytical tools, bioinformatics, protein biochemistry, and bacterial metabolic engineering.
Specialties: My specialty in part is biomarker identification using analytical tools including: stable isotope labeling, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV/Vis-ELSD, LC-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), gas-chromatography-MS (GC-MS), FT-IR, and multi-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data analysis. Furthermore, I have experience in molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and enzymology.
For the earlier doctoral work I was awarded a competitive National Institutes of Health (NIH) Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Trainee Fellowship from 2004 to 2008. My research focused on metabolomics and biomarker identification.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Matthew worked at Iowa State University as a Postdoctoral Research Associate
Graduate Research Associate
Matthew worked at Iowa State University as a Graduate Research Associate
Assistant Professor
Matthew worked at Saint Vincent College as a Assistant Professor
Part-time Faculty
Lecturer in chemistry and Senior-level biology courses.
Postdoctoral Associate
Genome sequencing/mining and biochemical characterization of gene(s) suspected to be involved in the biosynthesis of anti-microbial natural products.
Ph.D.
Plant Biology
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Graduate Research Associate
B.S.
Biology
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Awakawa, T.; Mori, T.; Nakashima, Y.; Zhai, R.; Wong, C.P.; Hillwig, M.L.; Liu, X.; Abe, I. “Molecular Insight into the Mg2+‐Dependent Allosteric Control of Indole Prenylation by Aromatic Prenyltransferase AmbP1.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018, 57 (23), 6810-6813.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Awakawa, T.; Mori, T.; Nakashima, Y.; Zhai, R.; Wong, C.P.; Hillwig, M.L.; Liu, X.; Abe, I. “Molecular Insight into the Mg2+‐Dependent Allosteric Control of Indole Prenylation by Aromatic Prenyltransferase AmbP1.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018, 57 (23), 6810-6813.
Chembiochem
Zhu, Q.; Hillwig, M. L.; Doi, Y.; Liu, X., Aliphatic Halogenase Enables Late-Stage C−H Functionalization: Selective Synthesis of a Brominated Fischerindole Alkaloid with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity. Chembiochem 2016, 17 (6), 466-70.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Awakawa, T.; Mori, T.; Nakashima, Y.; Zhai, R.; Wong, C.P.; Hillwig, M.L.; Liu, X.; Abe, I. “Molecular Insight into the Mg2+‐Dependent Allosteric Control of Indole Prenylation by Aromatic Prenyltransferase AmbP1.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018, 57 (23), 6810-6813.
Chembiochem
Zhu, Q.; Hillwig, M. L.; Doi, Y.; Liu, X., Aliphatic Halogenase Enables Late-Stage C−H Functionalization: Selective Synthesis of a Brominated Fischerindole Alkaloid with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity. Chembiochem 2016, 17 (6), 466-70.
Nature Chemical Biology
Hillwig ML, Liu X. A new family of iron-dependent halogenases acts on freestanding substrates. Nat Chem Biol. 2014 Sep 14. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1625. [Epub ahead of print]
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Awakawa, T.; Mori, T.; Nakashima, Y.; Zhai, R.; Wong, C.P.; Hillwig, M.L.; Liu, X.; Abe, I. “Molecular Insight into the Mg2+‐Dependent Allosteric Control of Indole Prenylation by Aromatic Prenyltransferase AmbP1.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018, 57 (23), 6810-6813.
Chembiochem
Zhu, Q.; Hillwig, M. L.; Doi, Y.; Liu, X., Aliphatic Halogenase Enables Late-Stage C−H Functionalization: Selective Synthesis of a Brominated Fischerindole Alkaloid with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity. Chembiochem 2016, 17 (6), 466-70.
Nature Chemical Biology
Hillwig ML, Liu X. A new family of iron-dependent halogenases acts on freestanding substrates. Nat Chem Biol. 2014 Sep 14. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1625. [Epub ahead of print]
Chemical Communications
Liu, X.; Hillwig, M. L.; Koharudin, L. M. I.; Gronenborn, A. M., Unified biogenesis of ambiguine, fischerindole, hapalindole and welwitindolinone: identification of a monogeranylated indolenine as a cryptic common biosynthetic intermediate by an unusual magnesium-dependent aromatic prenyltransferase. Chemical Communications 2016, 52 (8), 1737-1740.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Awakawa, T.; Mori, T.; Nakashima, Y.; Zhai, R.; Wong, C.P.; Hillwig, M.L.; Liu, X.; Abe, I. “Molecular Insight into the Mg2+‐Dependent Allosteric Control of Indole Prenylation by Aromatic Prenyltransferase AmbP1.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018, 57 (23), 6810-6813.
Chembiochem
Zhu, Q.; Hillwig, M. L.; Doi, Y.; Liu, X., Aliphatic Halogenase Enables Late-Stage C−H Functionalization: Selective Synthesis of a Brominated Fischerindole Alkaloid with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity. Chembiochem 2016, 17 (6), 466-70.
Nature Chemical Biology
Hillwig ML, Liu X. A new family of iron-dependent halogenases acts on freestanding substrates. Nat Chem Biol. 2014 Sep 14. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1625. [Epub ahead of print]
Chemical Communications
Liu, X.; Hillwig, M. L.; Koharudin, L. M. I.; Gronenborn, A. M., Unified biogenesis of ambiguine, fischerindole, hapalindole and welwitindolinone: identification of a monogeranylated indolenine as a cryptic common biosynthetic intermediate by an unusual magnesium-dependent aromatic prenyltransferase. Chemical Communications 2016, 52 (8), 1737-1740.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Mafu, S.; Jia, M.; Zi, J.; Morrone, D.; Wu, Y.; Xu, M.; Hillwig, M. L.; Peters, R. J. “Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. 2016, 113 (9), 2526-2531.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Mafu, S.; Jia, M.; Zi, J.; Morrone, D.; Wu, Y.; Xu, M.; Hillwig, M. L.; Peters, R. J., Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016, 113 (9), 2526-2531.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Awakawa, T.; Mori, T.; Nakashima, Y.; Zhai, R.; Wong, C.P.; Hillwig, M.L.; Liu, X.; Abe, I. “Molecular Insight into the Mg2+‐Dependent Allosteric Control of Indole Prenylation by Aromatic Prenyltransferase AmbP1.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018, 57 (23), 6810-6813.
Chembiochem
Zhu, Q.; Hillwig, M. L.; Doi, Y.; Liu, X., Aliphatic Halogenase Enables Late-Stage C−H Functionalization: Selective Synthesis of a Brominated Fischerindole Alkaloid with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity. Chembiochem 2016, 17 (6), 466-70.
Nature Chemical Biology
Hillwig ML, Liu X. A new family of iron-dependent halogenases acts on freestanding substrates. Nat Chem Biol. 2014 Sep 14. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1625. [Epub ahead of print]
Chemical Communications
Liu, X.; Hillwig, M. L.; Koharudin, L. M. I.; Gronenborn, A. M., Unified biogenesis of ambiguine, fischerindole, hapalindole and welwitindolinone: identification of a monogeranylated indolenine as a cryptic common biosynthetic intermediate by an unusual magnesium-dependent aromatic prenyltransferase. Chemical Communications 2016, 52 (8), 1737-1740.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Mafu, S.; Jia, M.; Zi, J.; Morrone, D.; Wu, Y.; Xu, M.; Hillwig, M. L.; Peters, R. J. “Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. 2016, 113 (9), 2526-2531.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Mafu, S.; Jia, M.; Zi, J.; Morrone, D.; Wu, Y.; Xu, M.; Hillwig, M. L.; Peters, R. J., Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016, 113 (9), 2526-2531.
Journal of Natural Products
Xu M, Hillwig ML, Tiernan MS, Peters RJ. “Probing labdane-related diterpenoid biosynthesis in the fungal genus Aspergillus.” Journal of Natural Products 2017, 80 (2), 328-33.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Awakawa, T.; Mori, T.; Nakashima, Y.; Zhai, R.; Wong, C.P.; Hillwig, M.L.; Liu, X.; Abe, I. “Molecular Insight into the Mg2+‐Dependent Allosteric Control of Indole Prenylation by Aromatic Prenyltransferase AmbP1.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018, 57 (23), 6810-6813.
Chembiochem
Zhu, Q.; Hillwig, M. L.; Doi, Y.; Liu, X., Aliphatic Halogenase Enables Late-Stage C−H Functionalization: Selective Synthesis of a Brominated Fischerindole Alkaloid with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity. Chembiochem 2016, 17 (6), 466-70.
Nature Chemical Biology
Hillwig ML, Liu X. A new family of iron-dependent halogenases acts on freestanding substrates. Nat Chem Biol. 2014 Sep 14. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1625. [Epub ahead of print]
Chemical Communications
Liu, X.; Hillwig, M. L.; Koharudin, L. M. I.; Gronenborn, A. M., Unified biogenesis of ambiguine, fischerindole, hapalindole and welwitindolinone: identification of a monogeranylated indolenine as a cryptic common biosynthetic intermediate by an unusual magnesium-dependent aromatic prenyltransferase. Chemical Communications 2016, 52 (8), 1737-1740.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Mafu, S.; Jia, M.; Zi, J.; Morrone, D.; Wu, Y.; Xu, M.; Hillwig, M. L.; Peters, R. J. “Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. 2016, 113 (9), 2526-2531.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Mafu, S.; Jia, M.; Zi, J.; Morrone, D.; Wu, Y.; Xu, M.; Hillwig, M. L.; Peters, R. J., Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016, 113 (9), 2526-2531.
Journal of Natural Products
Xu M, Hillwig ML, Tiernan MS, Peters RJ. “Probing labdane-related diterpenoid biosynthesis in the fungal genus Aspergillus.” Journal of Natural Products 2017, 80 (2), 328-33.
Chemical Communications
Mafu S, Potter KC, Hillwig ML, Schulte S, Criswell J, Peters RJ. “Efficient heterocyclisation by (di)terpene synthases.” Chemical Communications 2015 18;51(70):13485-7.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Awakawa, T.; Mori, T.; Nakashima, Y.; Zhai, R.; Wong, C.P.; Hillwig, M.L.; Liu, X.; Abe, I. “Molecular Insight into the Mg2+‐Dependent Allosteric Control of Indole Prenylation by Aromatic Prenyltransferase AmbP1.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018, 57 (23), 6810-6813.
Chembiochem
Zhu, Q.; Hillwig, M. L.; Doi, Y.; Liu, X., Aliphatic Halogenase Enables Late-Stage C−H Functionalization: Selective Synthesis of a Brominated Fischerindole Alkaloid with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity. Chembiochem 2016, 17 (6), 466-70.
Nature Chemical Biology
Hillwig ML, Liu X. A new family of iron-dependent halogenases acts on freestanding substrates. Nat Chem Biol. 2014 Sep 14. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1625. [Epub ahead of print]
Chemical Communications
Liu, X.; Hillwig, M. L.; Koharudin, L. M. I.; Gronenborn, A. M., Unified biogenesis of ambiguine, fischerindole, hapalindole and welwitindolinone: identification of a monogeranylated indolenine as a cryptic common biosynthetic intermediate by an unusual magnesium-dependent aromatic prenyltransferase. Chemical Communications 2016, 52 (8), 1737-1740.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Mafu, S.; Jia, M.; Zi, J.; Morrone, D.; Wu, Y.; Xu, M.; Hillwig, M. L.; Peters, R. J. “Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. 2016, 113 (9), 2526-2531.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Mafu, S.; Jia, M.; Zi, J.; Morrone, D.; Wu, Y.; Xu, M.; Hillwig, M. L.; Peters, R. J., Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016, 113 (9), 2526-2531.
Journal of Natural Products
Xu M, Hillwig ML, Tiernan MS, Peters RJ. “Probing labdane-related diterpenoid biosynthesis in the fungal genus Aspergillus.” Journal of Natural Products 2017, 80 (2), 328-33.
Chemical Communications
Mafu S, Potter KC, Hillwig ML, Schulte S, Criswell J, Peters RJ. “Efficient heterocyclisation by (di)terpene synthases.” Chemical Communications 2015 18;51(70):13485-7.
Nature Chemical Biology
Mitchell, A. J.; Zhu, Q.; Maggiolo, A. O.; Ananth, N. R.; Hillwig, M. L.; Liu, X.; Boal, A. K., Structural basis for halogenation by iron- and 2-oxo-glutarate-dependent enzyme WelO5. Nature Chemical Biology 2016, 12 (8), 636-40.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Awakawa, T.; Mori, T.; Nakashima, Y.; Zhai, R.; Wong, C.P.; Hillwig, M.L.; Liu, X.; Abe, I. “Molecular Insight into the Mg2+‐Dependent Allosteric Control of Indole Prenylation by Aromatic Prenyltransferase AmbP1.” Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2018, 57 (23), 6810-6813.
Chembiochem
Zhu, Q.; Hillwig, M. L.; Doi, Y.; Liu, X., Aliphatic Halogenase Enables Late-Stage C−H Functionalization: Selective Synthesis of a Brominated Fischerindole Alkaloid with Enhanced Antibacterial Activity. Chembiochem 2016, 17 (6), 466-70.
Nature Chemical Biology
Hillwig ML, Liu X. A new family of iron-dependent halogenases acts on freestanding substrates. Nat Chem Biol. 2014 Sep 14. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1625. [Epub ahead of print]
Chemical Communications
Liu, X.; Hillwig, M. L.; Koharudin, L. M. I.; Gronenborn, A. M., Unified biogenesis of ambiguine, fischerindole, hapalindole and welwitindolinone: identification of a monogeranylated indolenine as a cryptic common biosynthetic intermediate by an unusual magnesium-dependent aromatic prenyltransferase. Chemical Communications 2016, 52 (8), 1737-1740.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Mafu, S.; Jia, M.; Zi, J.; Morrone, D.; Wu, Y.; Xu, M.; Hillwig, M. L.; Peters, R. J. “Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S.A. 2016, 113 (9), 2526-2531.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Mafu, S.; Jia, M.; Zi, J.; Morrone, D.; Wu, Y.; Xu, M.; Hillwig, M. L.; Peters, R. J., Probing the promiscuity of ent-kaurene oxidases via combinatorial biosynthesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2016, 113 (9), 2526-2531.
Journal of Natural Products
Xu M, Hillwig ML, Tiernan MS, Peters RJ. “Probing labdane-related diterpenoid biosynthesis in the fungal genus Aspergillus.” Journal of Natural Products 2017, 80 (2), 328-33.
Chemical Communications
Mafu S, Potter KC, Hillwig ML, Schulte S, Criswell J, Peters RJ. “Efficient heterocyclisation by (di)terpene synthases.” Chemical Communications 2015 18;51(70):13485-7.
Nature Chemical Biology
Mitchell, A. J.; Zhu, Q.; Maggiolo, A. O.; Ananth, N. R.; Hillwig, M. L.; Liu, X.; Boal, A. K., Structural basis for halogenation by iron- and 2-oxo-glutarate-dependent enzyme WelO5. Nature Chemical Biology 2016, 12 (8), 636-40.
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Hillwig, M. L.; Zhu, Q.; Ittiamornkul, K.; Liu, X., Discovery of a Promiscuous Non-Heme Iron Halogenase in Ambiguine Alkaloid Biogenesis: Implication for an Evolvable Enzyme Family for Late-Stage Halogenation of Aliphatic Carbons in Small Molecules. Angewandte Chemie International Edition 2016, 55 (19), 5780-4.