Ken Roberts, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Dept of Chemistry & Physics at USC Aiken
From Aiken, SC

Dr. Roberts is interested in the underlying principles that govern the catalytic reactions of enzymes. A combination of kinetic analyses and chemical probes are used to investigate the specific chemical steps involved in enzymatic reactions. Specifically, he and his undergraduate researchers are investigating the oxidative cleavage reaction catalyzed by 2,4'-dihydroxyacetophenone dioxygenase (DAD). The DAD reaction has superficial similarities to the reactions catalyzed by intradiol dioxygenases (ID) and acireductone dioxygenase (ARD'), but with significant differences including off-ring cleavage and metal preference. We are currently evaluating the steady-state kinetics of the DAD reaction to gain insight into its kinetic and chemical mechanism.

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USC Aiken

Ken in the News

Kenneth Roberts Participates in UofSC Aiken's Third Annual Summer Scholars Institute Summer Symposium

The University of South Carolina Aiken showcased its top scholars at the third annual Summer Scholars Institute Summer Symposium on Friday, September 25. This symposium was cohosted by the College...

October, 09 2020 - USC Aiken

USC Aiken Summer Scholars Institute Showcases Undergraduate Research

The University of South Carolina Aiken hosted its second annual Summer Scholars Institute Symposium, featuring research conducted by undergraduates and their faculty mentors during the summer break. "The sole purpose of the Summer Scholars Inst...

August, 01 2019 - USC Aiken

USC Aiken Faculty Receive Research Grants

The University of South Carolina announced that nine USC Aiken faculty members received grants for their summer research. The Research Initiative for Summer Engagement, or RISE, program was initiated in 2012 to support summer research for facul...

February, 26 2019 - USC Aiken

State Discovered USC Aiken Researchers

During the annual Discover USC event in Columbia, 45 University of South Carolina Aiken students participated, many bringing home awards. "Our students were wonderful and did such a great job," said Dr. Chad Leverette, director of sponsored res...

May, 30 2018 - USC Aiken