The aim of the research in my laboratory is to understand the role of lysine deacetylases in controlling physiological processes. Using unnatural amino acid mutagenesis, we characterized the role of lysine deacetylase Hst2 in mitotic chromosome condensation in yeast, a previously not recognized condensin-independent mechanism. In addition, we have developed a strategy for the directed evolution of lysine deacetylases, with which we can develop new tools for studying their functions.