In our latest preprint we report the unexpected discovery of Epi-STR, an R-stereoselective ortholog of the S-selective canonical Strictosidine synthases (STRs). Found in the rather obscure plant Pogonopus specious. This work was led by my stellar student Clara Morweiser! #natprod #PlantScience

We have 5 new undergrads working in the lab this semester - Camille, Gabriel, Eshal, and Dilaksha (Fanfan's team!) and Abinaya (working with Lorena). See their profiles here: www.dastmalchilab.com/lab/people

A position is open for a metabolomics research technician to work jointly in my and Eliana Gonzales-Vigil's lab. See further details here: www.dastmalchilab.com/contact. Deadline March 1st. Position to start ~May 1st. Please follow guidelines to apply.

Our lab is attending Plant Bio 2026 in Ottawa! See you all July 18-22! @aspbofficial.bsky.social @cspbscbv.bsky.social

Protein–Protein Interactions Modulate a Key Branch Point in Monoterpene Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis | ACS Chemical Biology pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....

#books I read in 2025: Not as many strong recommendations to give this year. Vineland was a slog. Latronico's Perfection was a tasty palate cleanser.

Dastmalchi Lab 2025 / Holiday Party🎄

In 1996, almost thirty years ago, Stephan Clemens & Wolfgang Barz described a methylenedioxy bridge formation reaction, converting calycosin to pseudobaptigenin. Today, we have identified the enzyme catalyst from red clover! 🍀 @UTSC @UtscBiology www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...

Such a neat idea for a special collection! New insights / side projects, consider submitting here.

Went for a run last week along the scenic Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail @utsc.utoronto.ca -- that starts behind our lab and can be followed to the lake! -- and made a friend.

The Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Arthur Neish Young Investigator Award and applications for the TPJ-PSNA Early Career Award! The deadline is January 30, 2026. Find the guideline at: www.psna-online.org/awards #PSNA #PlantMetabolism

Salicylic acid biosynthesis via the PAL pathway requires benzaldehyde synthase and a benzyl salicylate-specific esterase (Dawei Ma, Harley Gordon, Rashid Nazir, Jeremy E Wulff, C Peter Constabel) doi.org/10.1093/plce... #PlantScience @aspbofficial

Iconic smokestacks / Andrews Building @utsc.utoronto.ca.

Interesting, rather than juglone, 2Z-decaprenol isolated as a strong allelochemical from Juglans mandshurica via bioassay-guided fractionation. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

I have tried and failed to finish reading László Krasznahorkai's Sátántangó on more than one occasion. Clearly #Nobel worthy.

The 2025 #CSPB_ERM conference website is now ONLINE! LINK: event.fourwaves.com/erm2025 Early registration: Oct. 24 Regular registration: Oct. 25-Nov. 12 Abstract deadline for oral/poster presentations: Oct. 24 Student/postdoc registration fees are heavily discounted. See you soon!

📢Announcement! The call for 𝐓𝐏𝐉 𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 is now open! 🌟 It is designed to offer support and mentorship to researchers transitioning from post-doctoral scientists to principal investigators Info: 👉http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/1365313x/homepage/TPJ-fellowships & in 🧵

Our new study in Nature Plants maps how "multi-tasking" enzymes in plants transfer nitrogen, a key step toward improving crop N use efficiency. 🌱 Big thanks to our collaborators from Max Planck, Hokkaido Univ, & MSU, and for support from @NSF and @DOE. Learn more: rdcu.be/eFOFN #PlantMetabolism

I'm here. New lab, new office. Back at @utoronto.ca where it all started (Class of 2029). Re-starting my research program on the gorgeous @utsc.utoronto.ca campus.