| Citation | Distinguished for his outstanding contributions to knowledge of the biosynthesis of natural products. Early work with Battersby on the alkaloids led to independent research from 1970 on polyketides, a family including many important antibiotics. Details of the biosynthesis of citrinin, sclerin, canescin and terrein were elucidated mainly using stable isotopes and Staunton devised novel techniques, e.g. the NMR beta-shift method for 2H detection. He demonstrated by biomimetic syntheses how the cyclisation of polyketones to aromatic polyketides is controlled; his conclusions have been shown to hold good for natural products ranging from naphthalenes to tetracyclines. Staunton recognised early the importance of combining chemical and biological approaches (with Peter Leadlay) for research on aliphatic polyketides leading to the black box of polyketide biosynthesis being opened. Staunton pioneered the use of electrospray mass spectrometry for detection of intermediates bound to enzymes involved polyketide biosynthesis. The research on polyketide synthases (PKS) has transformed knowledge of these enzymes and has led to (a) the first in vitro syntheses using an isolated PKS and (b) transfer of starter modules and chain extension domains from one PKS to another to yield chimeric polyketides so opening new future vistas. Staunton's original and precise research have led him to be widely regarded as a world leader in his field. |