Assistant Professor of Chemistry
(860) 685-2739
eataylor@wesleyan.eduBiological Chemistry: Research focusing on enzyme mechanism determination, gene function assignment, transition-state and mechanism-based inhibitor design, and directed evolution of enzyme function
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Research in the Taylor lab involves taking a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate biological problems. In particular, we focus on enzyme mechanism determination, gene function assignment, transition-state and mechanism-based inhibitor design, and directed evolution of enzyme function. These strategies are then applied toward our long-term goals of (1) developing bacterial enzyme inhibitors with antimicrobial applications and (2) engineering of microbial pathways to improve the efficiency of biofuel production. All of these investigations involve examining enzymes within the context of their enzyme superfamilies, thereby allowing us to observe Nature’s strategies for modifying enzymes to yield new functions. These comparisons allow for discernment of conserved amino acid residues or spatial patterns necessary for catalyzing a given reaction. These analyses are intended to allow for improvement in the world’s ability to predict function for uncharacterized enzymes and ultimately could lead to the de novo design and synthesis of efficient enzymes for the catalysis of non-natural reactions. Goal 1: Antimicrobial Development We are exploring the contribution to pathogenesis of the bacterial cell surface components with the hope that understanding their biosynthesis will allow for the development of inhibitors that would have antimicrobial applications. Specifically, the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of gram negative bacteria are being investigated to elucidate their as yet unknown function in biofilm formation. Biofilm formation is an important mechanism by which bacteria can evade the host immune response and also resist the deleterious effects of antibiotics. Disruption of biofilm formation is therefore important for the development of novel strategies for combating bacterial infection. Research toward this goal involves the chemical and structural characterization of unique polysaccharide surface components. Identifying and characterizing the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of these surface components is another integral aspect of our research. The exploration of the mechanistic and kinetic details of these enzymatic reactions, with a special focus on understanding the elements that regulate substrate specificity, is ongoing. Future directions in the lab will include development of enzyme inhibitors as potential drugs, including conducting drug challenge assays with known pathogens to discern the therapeutic potential of these inhibitors. Goal 2: Efficient Biofuel Production Increased interest in biomass conversion to biofuels has led to critical evaluation of the environmental impact of non-fossil fuel carbon sources, which in turn has revealed surprising problems associated with biofuel development efforts of major biomass sources (i.e. corn, sugarcane, soy). In order to help improve efficiency and to reduce the environmental impact of biofuel production, our lab is working to develop non-sugar and non-food based compounds as carbon sources for biofuel production. One potential carbon source being investigated is lignin, which is produced as a waste product of the timberland, agricultural and biofuel industries, and makes up approximately 25 % of all non-fossil organic carbon on the planet. The metabolic pathways for the degradation of lignin are being investigated, and the enzymes of these pathways are being structurally, computationally and kinetically characterized. These enzymes will be mutated and engineered, to allow for development of an abbreviated metabolic pathway that could have future industrial applications. |
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The Taylor Group
