| Citation | Professor Leadlay is distinguished for his work on the mechanisms of complex enzyme-catalysed reactions. In addition to a rigorous chemical insight, he has embraced the methods of molecular biology and protein chemistry as part of a multi-faceted approach to the study of elaborate biochemical transformations. He has laid the foundations of a breakthrough in the study of the enigmatic carbon skeletal rearrangements catalysed by coenzyme B12-dependent enzymes. His work on the biosynthesis of the polyketides, a diverse group of natural products including antibacterials, immunosuppressants, and anti-cancer compounds has brought him world-wide acclaim. The possiblity of applying techniques of protein engineering selectively has been successfully demonstrated and promises to be a rich and important field of study for many years to come |