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The first manuscript by Abeyrathna, Khoury, Kucharzyk and Banta describes the discovery that the alcohol dehydrogenase D from Pyrococcus furiosus has a previously unreported metal ion binding site with high affinity for lanthanides.  Upon immobilization we show the thermostable protein can be used for lanthanide separations. In the second manuscript by Gokulu, Abeyrathna and Banta, we discover that lanthanides can also affect enzymatic catalysis via interactions with the cofactor/complexes.

Two presentations were given at the 2026 SIMB Annual Meeting in Austin, TX.  Professor Banta gave a presentation entitled "Biomolecular engineering for critical material recovery" and Kate Kucharzyk gave a presentation entitled "Extremophilic microbes and proteins for extraction and separation of REEs".

A presentation from the Banta Lab was given at the 2026 ECI Biochemical and Molecular Engineering XXIV conference which was held in Puerto Rico.  Prof. Banta delivered a presentation entitled "Mining proteins for mining solutions".