Published on by Biotechnology Scientist

Dr. Nikita Kuznetsov | Enzyme Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Head of Lab at Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine | Russia

Dr. Nikita A. Kuznetsov is a leading biochemist recognized for influential contributions to the molecular mechanisms of DNA repair, biocatalysis, and enzyme engineering, supported by a strong research record comprising 1,724 citations, 125 publications, and an h-index of 25 in Scopus. His scientific work bridges physical chemistry, enzymology, and genetic technologies, offering foundational insights into enzyme conformational dynamics and substrate recognition. He has systematically characterized the kinetic steps of DNA repair enzymes, revealing molecular requirements for nucleotide flipping, DNA bending, and catalytic coordination across prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. His research established the DNA-mediated signaling model that explains cooperative interactions among repair enzymes and identified significant effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms on repair efficiency, protein–protein interactions, and genome maintenance. Kuznetsov’s portfolio includes patented assays for repair enzyme activity, discovery of the first inhibitor of human OGG1, and the development of highly accurate thermostable DNA polymerases that surpass global standards for error-free DNA amplification. His work extends to SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibition, where he applied pre-steady-state kinetics, molecular modeling, and synthesis to identify low-toxicity antiviral candidates. He has engineered thermostable reverse transcriptases, DNA-dependent RNA polymerases, and terminal deoxyribonucleotidyltransferases essential for emerging enzymatic DNA synthesis technologies, along with enzymatic systems for bioremediation through redesigned oxygenases. His research demonstrates excellence across fundamental and applied biochemistry, contributing to genome stability studies, molecular diagnostics, antiviral development, and next-generation genetic engineering platforms.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

Davletgildeeva, A. T., Tyugashev, T. E., Sagalakova, V. V., Zhao, M., & Kuznetsov, N. A. (2025). Predictive analysis and validation of critical missense SNPs of the ABH2 gene using structural bioinformatics. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Timofeyeva, N. A., Tsoi, E. I., Novopashina, D. S., Kuznetsov, N. A., & Kuznetsova, A. A. (2025). Interplay between DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase, and RNase H1 during head-on transcription–replication conflict. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Gavrilova, A. A., Kuznetsova, A. A., Novopashina, D. S., Zheng, C., Sun, Q., & Kuznetsov, N. A. (2025). Biochemical characterization of R-loop degradation by chloroplast-localized RNase H1 from Arabidopsis thaliana. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Kuznetsova, A. A., Grishina, I. A., Mikushina, E. S., & Kuznetsov, N. A. (2025). Engineering a thermostable reverse transcriptase for RT-PCR through rational design of Pyrococcus furiosus DNA polymerase. Biomolecules.

Davletgildeeva, A. T., & Kuznetsov, N. A. (2025). Participants in transcription–replication conflict and their role in formation and resolution of R-loops. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

 

Nikita Kuznetsov | Enzyme Engineering | Research Excellence Award

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