Martin Warren has used microbiology to help understand a range of metabolic processes, including those associated with the biosynthesis of the pigments of life. He has developed several strategies in the area of synthetic biology, including the use of “enzyme cocktails” to study complex biochemical pathways in vitro, developing the multi-gene cloning strategy “Link and Lock” for in vivo analysis, and establishing the “enzyme-trap” approach to isolate unstable pathway intermediates.
He is a leading authority on the biogenesis of modified tetrapyrroles such as heme, coenzyme F430 and vitamin B12. He has also contributed to the study of bacterial microcompartments (BMCs), prokaryotic organelles that create unique environments for the production of toxic intermediates. Leveraging these fundamental discoveries, Warren has developed applied technologies in areas such as biotechnology, bioremediation and nutrition.