Ken Sale

Deputy Director of Microbial and Enzyme Discovery

Author profile picture

Deputy Director of Microbial and Enzyme Discovery

klsale@sandia.gov

(925) 294-2143

Sandia National Laboratories, California
 P.O. Box 969
 Livermore, CA 94551-0969

Biography

Ken Sale’s expertise is in structural and computational biology, enzymology, enzyme engineering, EPR spectroscopy, statistics and data analytics. His group’s aim is to develop multi-component enzyme mixtures for depolymerizing complex carbohydrates into simple sugars and depolymerizing lignin to defined intermediates. This work includes structural and functional characterization of enzymes discovered in microbes and microbial communities and engineering enzymes enhanced performance in industrially relevant biorefining environments such as the presence of ionic liquids and extremes of temperature and pH.

Projects

  • High-throughput screening of cellulolytic enzymes across a matrix of conditions (T, pH, ionic liquid) to identify enzymes for mixture optimization and to understand the protein features that impart ionic liquid tolerance
  • Understanding the enzymes involved in enzymatic depolymerization and metabolism of lignin and combining these enzymes to generate defined lignin fragments
  • Developing novel methods for recovery and recycle of enzymes
  • Understanding the changes in enzyme kinetics resulting from the presence of an ionic liquid
  • Engineering enzymes for improved IL tolerance

Publications

  • Sale, K., Rodriguez Ruiz, J., Light, Y., Tran-Gyamfi, M., Hirakawa, M., George, A., Geiselman, G., Martinez, S., & Martinez, S. (2022). Synthetic Microbial Consortium for Biological Breakdown and Conversion of Lignin. https://doi.org/10.2172/1891189 Publication ID: 80282
  • Martinez, D.V., Sale, K., Simmons, B.A., Sale, K., Simmons, B.A., Singer, S.W., Martinez, D.V., Rodriguez Ruiz, J., Juarros, M.A., Martinez, E.J., Alam, T.M., Sale, K., Kent, M.S., & Kent, M.S. (2022). Depolymerization of lignin for biological conversion through sulfonation and a chelator-mediated Fenton reaction. Green Chemistry, 24(4), pp. 1627-1643. https://doi.org/10.1039/d1gc03854k Publication ID: 79998
  • Ing, N., Deng, K., Chen, Y., Aulitto, M., Gin, J.W., Pham, T.L.M., Petzold, C.J., Singer, S.W., Bowen, B., Sale, K., Simmons, B.A., Singh, A.K., Adams, P.D., Northen, T.R., & Northen, T.R. (2021). A multiplexed nanostructure-initiator mass spectrometry (NIMS) assay for simultaneously detecting glycosyl hydrolase and lignin modifying enzyme activities. Scientific Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91181-8 Publication ID: 77377
  • Wolski, P., Lopes, A., Deng, K., Simmons, B., Mukhopadhyay, A., Singer, S., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2021). High Throughput expression and characterization of laccases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae [Poster] [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1866050 Publication ID: 78276
  • Wolski, P., Lopes, A., Deng, K., Simmons, B., Mukhopadhyay, A., Singer, S., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2021). High Throughput expression and characterization of laccases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1866049 Publication ID: 78275
  • Kent, M.S., Martinez, D.V., Juarros, M., Bell, N., Martinez, E.J., Alam, T.M., Sale, K., Simmons, B., & Simmons, B. (2021). Polyacids from lignin [Conference Presenation]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1863495 Publication ID: 78063
  • Kent, M.S., Martinez, D.V., Rodriguez Ruiz, J., Juarros, M., Martinez, E.J., Alam, T.M., Simmons, B., Sale, K., Singer, S., & Singer, S. (2021). Depolymerization of lignin for biological conversion through sulfonation and a chelator-mediated Fenton reaction [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1863494 Publication ID: 78062
  • Pham, T.L.M., Deng, K., Northen, T., Singer, S., Adams, P., Simmons, B., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2021). Expression of fungal laccase in Pichia pastoris and characterization of their activity using nanostructure-initiator mass spectrometry assay [Conference Poster]. https://doi.org/10.2172/1863190 Publication ID: 78025
  • Kent, M.S., Sale, K., Ricken, J., Martinez, D.V., Juarros, M., Walrdop-Grover, W., & Walrdop-Grover, W. (2019). Screening for Dimerization Inhibitors for Bacterial Acetyl CoA Carboxylase. https://doi.org/10.2172/1573932 Publication ID: 66166
  • Brenden, C., Kent, M.S., Zeng, J., Rader, N., Avina, I., Simoes, C., Busse, M., Watt, J., Giron, N., Alam, T.M., Allendorf, M., Simmons, B., Bell, N., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2018). Lignin valorization to a water-soluble polyacid with comparable industrial dispersant performance [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1806763 Publication ID: 63340
  • Dailey, M., Ye, D., Sale, K., Maes, D., Simoes, C., Appelhans, L., Hayes, D., Kent, M.S., Timlin, J., & Timlin, J. (2018). Accumulation of lignin-breakdown products in several lignolytic and non-lignolytic bacteria and fungi [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1495744 Publication ID: 60689
  • Deng, K., Zeng, J., Sale, K., Simmons, B., Adams, P., Singh, A., Northen, T., & Northen, T. (2017). Synthetic Chemical Probes for Studying Lignin Deconstruction and Analysis of Biofuel Molecules Using Nanostructure-Initiator Mass Spectrometry (NIMS) [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1510402 Publication ID: 53483
  • Kent, M.S., Zeng, J., Rader, N., Simoes, C., Avina, I., Busse, M., Kohler, A., Simmons, S., A., B., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2017). Insights into the reaction of laccase/mediator systems with insoluble lignin [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1480669 Publication ID: 53924
  • Kent, M.S., Zeng, J., Rader, N., Avina, I., Simoes, C., Brenden, C., Busse, M., Giron, N., Celina, M.C., Allendorf, M., Simmons, B., Bell, N., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2017). Efficient Conversion of Lignin into a water-soluble polymer by a Chelator-Mediated Fenton Reaction: Optimization of H2O2 & Performance as a Dispersant [Presentation]. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7GC03459H Publication ID: 53922
  • Zeng, J., Rader, N., Simoes, C., Busse, M., Brumbach, M., Katahari, R., Beckham, G., Simmons, B., Sale, K., Kent, M.S., & Kent, M.S. (2017). Reaction of laccase-HBT with lignin: optimization and mechanistic insights [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1457996 Publication ID: 56303
  • Geng, H., Tran-Gyamfi, M., Sale, K., Lane, T.W., & Lane, T.W. (2016). Substructural details of chemical driven shifts in the Nannochloropsis salina microbiota [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1376782 Publication ID: 51748
  • Geng, H., Tran-Gyamfi, M., Sale, K., Lane, T.W., & Lane, T.W. (2016). Utilizing Biocomplexity to Propagate Stable Algal Blooms in Open System [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1375582 Publication ID: 51637
  • Geng, H., Sale, K., Tran-Gyamfi, M., Lane, T.W., Yu, E.T., & Yu, E.T. (2016). Longitudinal Analysis of Microbiota in Microalga Nannochloropsis salina Cultures. Microbial Ecology, 72(1), pp. 14-24. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-016-0746-4 Publication ID: 48532
  • Sale, K. (2016). Enzyme Engineering for Biofuels [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1428015 Publication ID: 49996
  • Kent, M.S., Avina, I., Rader, N., Busse, M., George, A., Sathitsuksanoh, N., Giron, N., Timlin, J., Polsky, R., Chavez, V., Huber, D., Sale, K., Simmons, B., & Simmons, B. (2016). New assay for lignin depolymerization based on lignin films [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1365676 Publication ID: 49119
  • Kent, M.S., Zeng, J., Rader, N., Simoes, C., Busse, M., Giron, N., Celina, M.C., Sale, K., Simmons, B., Bell, N., & Bell, N. (2016). Polyacid dispersants from Lignin [Conference Poster]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1365678 Publication ID: 49117
  • Stavila, V., Parthasarathi, R., Davis, R., El Gabaly, F., Sale, K., Simmons, B., Singh, S., Allendorf, M., & Allendorf, M. (2016). MOF-Based Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenolysis of Carbon-Oxygen Ether Bonds. ACS Catalysis, 6(1), pp. 55-59. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.5b02061 Publication ID: 42669
  • Kent, M.S., Avina, I., Rader, N., Turner, K., George, A., Timlin, J., Polsky, R., Ricken, J., Sale, K., Simmons, B., & Simmons, B. (2014). Fuels and Chemicals from Lignocellulosic Biomass: Valorization of Lignin [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1242073 Publication ID: 39261
  • Lane, T.W., Sale, K., Geng, H., Tran-Gyamfi, M., & Tran-Gyamfi, M. (2014). The Contribution of Founder Community to the Succession of Algal Microbiota. Applied Environmental Microbiology. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1140322 Publication ID: 37196
  • Sale, K., Schoeniger, J., Light, Y., Highley, A., Yu, E., & Yu, E. (2014). Gas-phase hydrogen-deuterium exchange reveals multiple confor-mations of the SH3 domain of PI3 kinase highlighting potential role of allosteric enzyme control. Journal of the American Chemical Society. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1127120 Publication ID: 36732
  • Murton, J., Huber, D., Sale, K., Simmons, B., Kent, M.S., & Kent, M.S. (2012). Interactions of Endoglucanases with Amorphous Cellulose Films Resolved by Neutron Reflectometry and Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation Monitoring. Proposed for publication in Langmuir.. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1061092 Publication ID: 30009
  • Sale, K. (2012). Improvements of biomass deconstruction enzymes [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1035845 Publication ID: 26970
  • Armstrong, R., Sale, K., Schoeniger, J., Solis, J., Mayo, J., & Mayo, J. (2012). Community-Based Resistance to Intrusion in Information Technology Systems [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1688625 Publication ID: 25854
  • Elmer, S., Sale, K., Schoeniger, J., Turner, K., Light, Y., Yu, E., & Yu, E. (2011). Molecular dynamics simulations of cross-linked helical peptides and SH3 protein domains [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1143856 Publication ID: 25542
  • Yu, E., Highley, A., Elmer, S., Light, Y., Schoeniger, J., Sale, K., Sasaki, D., & Sasaki, D. (2011). Gas-phase hydrogen-deuterium exchange coupled with ECD to investigate conformational dynamics in peptides and proteins [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1288683 Publication ID: 23087
  • Sale, K., Schoeniger, J., Yu, E., Light, Y., & Light, Y. (2010). How are the intrinsic motions of a protein related to enzymatic activity? [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1031905 Publication ID: 20787
  • Kent, M.S., Branda, S., Hayden, C., Sasaki, D., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2010). Initiation of the TLR4 signal transduction network : deeper understanding for better therapeutics. https://doi.org/10.2172/1008139 Publication ID: 20223
  • Yu, E., Elmer, S., Sasaki, D., Sale, K., Schoeniger, J., & Schoeniger, J. (2010). Dynamical effects of incorporating site-specific crosslinks in peptides examined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1020500 Publication ID: 18513
  • Yu, E., Elmer, S., Sasaki, D., Sale, K., Schoeniger, J., & Schoeniger, J. (2010). Dynamical effects of incorporating site-specific crosslinks in peptides examined by hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1124336 Publication ID: 17238
  • Gray, G.A., Williams, P.J., Brown, W.M., Faulon, J.-L., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2010). Disparate data fusion for protein phosphorylation prediction. Annals of Operations Research, 174(1), pp. 219-235. https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=76649125923&origin=inward Publication ID: 9601
  • Reichmuth, D., Kozina, C., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2009). Copy of Synthetic Biology of Novel Thermophilic Bacteria for Enhanced Production of Ethanol from 5-Carbon Sugars (LDRD # 105944) [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1142052 Publication ID: 16502
  • Reichmuth, D., Kozina, C., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2009). Synthetic Biology of Novel Thermophilic Bacteria for Enhanced Production of Ethanol from 5-Carbon Sugars (LDRD # 105944) [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1141823 Publication ID: 16501
  • Yu, E., Hadi, M., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2008). DNA-MEDIATED REF1 CONFORMATIONAL CHANGES: POSSIBLE MECHANISM FOR PROTEIN RECRUITMENT IN BASE EXCISION REPAIR (BER) PATHWAY [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1143380 Publication ID: 13805
  • Yu, E., Hadi, M., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2008). PROBING APE-1 CONFORMATIONS AND PROTEIN-PROTEIN INTERACTIONS INVOLVED IN THE BASE EXCISION REPAIR (BER) PATHWAY [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1146257 Publication ID: 12609
  • Faulon, J.-L., Misra, M., Martin, S., Sale, K., Sapra, R., & Sapra, R. (2008). Genome scale enzyme – Metabolite and drug – Target interaction predictions using the signature molecular descriptor. Bioinformatics, 24(2), pp. 225-233. https://doi.org/10.1093/bioinformatics/btm580 Publication ID: 9240
  • Williams, P.J., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2007). Identifying Protein Phosphorylation Sites Using Methods of Disparate Data Fusion [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1714523 Publication ID: 11491
  • Sale, K., Williams, P.J., Davidson, G., & Davidson, G. (2007). Datapipelining for Heterogeneous Data Fusion [Presentation]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1720348 Publication ID: 11171
  • Sapra, R., Reichmuth, D., Sale, K., Kozina, C., & Kozina, C. (2007). Copy of Synthetic Biology of Novel Thermophilic Bacteria for Enhanced Production of Ethanol from 5-Carbon Sugars [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1147232 Publication ID: 11009
  • Jacobsen, R., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2007). Protein Structure and Conformation Revealed Using Sequential Cross-linker Rate Measurements (SCRaM): Direct Measurement of Inter-Residue Distances and Secondary Structure [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1141442 Publication ID: 10079
  • Gray, G., Sale, K., Williams, P.J., & Williams, P.J. (2006). Disparate Data Fusion for Protein Phosphorylation Prediction [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1264179 Publication ID: 7952
  • Gray, G., Williams, P.J., Sale, K., & Sale, K. (2006). Enhancing information extraction by applying ensemble classification to disparate data sets [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/886644 Publication ID: 6766
  • Roe, D., Sale, K., Faulon, J.-L., & Faulon, J.-L. (2006). Developing algorithms for predicting protein-protein interactions of homology modeled proteins. https://doi.org/10.2172/883467 Publication ID: 6481
  • Schoeniger, J., Ayson, M., Jacobsen, R., Lane, P., Sale, K., Young, M., & Young, M. (2005). Chemical crosslinking and mass spectrometry studies of the structure and dynamics of membrane proteins and receptors. https://doi.org/10.2172/922763 Publication ID: 4753
  • Faulon, J.-L., Sale, K., Schoeniger, J., Young, M., & Young, M. (2004). A deterministic algorithm for constrained enumeration of transmembrane protein folds [Conference]. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/959090 Publication ID: 3367
Showing 10 of 49 publications.