Turner completed his Bachelor of Science degree inChemistry in 1982 atUniversity of Bristol.[8] He then read for his Doctor of Philosophy degree atUniversity of Oxford onMechanistic studies on isopenicillin N synthase and successfully completed it in 1985.[11] His PhD was supervised byJack Baldwin.[11]
Turner is the Director of CoEBio3, an organisation designed to provide scientific environment in which the necessary research and development can be carried out to create new biocatalyst-based processes to meet the changing needs of industry in the next 10–20 years.[13] He is also the Co-founder of Ingenza and Co-director of SYNBIOCHEM.[14][15] Turner is also the author of several books in the field ofbiocatalysis includingIntroduction to Biocatalysis Using Enzymes and Microorganisms,[16] andBiocatalysis in Organic Synthesis: The Retrosynthesis Approach.[17]
Turner was elected as aFellow of the Royal Society in the year 2020.[6] Regarded one of the world's leading researchers[6] in the field of Biocatalysis, his profile reads:
"Nicholas Turner undertakes research focussed on creating new enzymes for application as biocatalysts for chemical synthesis.[18][19][20] His group combine enzyme discovery with protein engineering and directed evolution methods in order to develop biocatalysts with tailored properties including high (stereo)selectivity, improved activity and enhanced stability. These biocatalysts, which include amine/alcohol oxidases, imine reductases, lyases, transaminases and monooxygenases, are then applied to the synthesis of a range of target molecules especially pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals.[21][22] ... Nick also has a passion for promoting the wider application of biocatalysis across the entire chemical community and has developed guidelines for 'biocatalytic retrosynthesis'[17] to encourage greater adoption of biocatalysis amongst synthetic chemists."
Turner, Nicholas (23 April 2012). "Oxidation of C – N Bonds". In Drauz, Karlheinz; Gröger, Harald; May, Oliver (eds.).Biocatalysis in Organic Synthesis: The Retrosynthesis Approach. United Kingdom: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. pp. 1535–1552.doi:10.1002/9783527639861.ISBN9783527325474.
^(Synbiochem) Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Center."Synbiochem". Retrieved18 June 2020.
^Turner, Nicholas; Turner, Michael K.; Roberts, Stanley M.; Willetts, Andrew J. (27 January 1995). Willetts, Andrew J. (ed.).Introduction to Biocatalysis Using Enzymes and Microorganisms. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.doi:10.1017/CBO9780511752254.ISBN9780511752254.
^abTurner, Nicholas; Humphreys, Luke (8 February 2018).Biocatalysis in Organic Synthesis: The Retrosynthesis Approach. United Kingdom: Royal Society of Chemistry.ISBN978-1-78801-342-0.
^Turner, Nicholas (23 April 2012). "Oxidation of C – N Bonds". In Drauz, Karlheinz; Gröger, Harald; May, Oliver (eds.).Biocatalysis in Organic Synthesis: The Retrosynthesis Approach. United Kingdom: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. pp. 1535–1552.doi:10.1002/9783527639861.ISBN9783527325474.
