Barry L. Taylor

Biography

Dr. Abhishek is currently working as a Assistant Professor in the Department of Department of Science, Banaras Hindu University , India. His research interests includes Spine surgery, Spinal cord regeneration. He is serving as an editorial member and reviewer of several international reputed journals. Dr. Abhishek is the member of many international affiliations. He/ She has successfully completed his Administrative responsibilities. He /she has authored of many research articles/books related to Spine surgery, Spinal cord regeneration. Dr. Barry L. Taylor is currently working as a Professor in the Department of Division of Microbiology, Loma Linda University , U.S.A. His research interests includes How do cells sense oxygen and energy?, Structure-function studies of the aerotaxis transducer Aer and PAS domains, Ecological role of bacterial behavior to oxygen.. He /she is serving as an editorial member and reviewer of several international reputed journals. Dr. Barry L. Taylor is the member of many international affiliations. He has successfully completed his Administrative responsibilities. He has authored of many research articles/books related to How do cells sense oxygen and energy?, Structure-function studies of the aerotaxis transducer Aer and PAS domains, Ecological role of bacterial behavior to oxygen..

Research Interest

How do cells sense oxygen and energy? Bacteria have the remarkable ability to navigate to the precise concentration of oxygen that is optimal for growth. This behavior is called aerotaxis. My laboratory investigates the signal transduction pathways for aerotaxis in E. coli and other bacteria as model systems for learning how oxygen receptors might function in higher organisms. We have recently identified two oxygen transducers, the Aer and Tsr proteins in E. coli. The Aer protein has a PAS domain that is similar to domains in human oxygen-sensing proteins, such as hypoxia-inducible factor-1. Understanding human responses to hypoxia is of considerable medical importance, and our studies of Aer are suggesting common mechanisms for PAS-domain-containing proteins. Structure-function studies of the aerotaxis transducer Aer and PAS domains. We have cloned the aer gene. Using cysteine scanning mutagenesis, we have identified residues in Aer that are important for signal transduction, including residues that transform a positive signal into a negative response. Current projects will determine: the structure of Aer and the role of the critical residues; the role of FAD in signaling by Aer; and the cellular components that interact with Aer. A combination of genetic, molecular biology, and biochemical strategies are utilized in answering these questions. This provides students with a broad exposure to current techniques and allows each to extensively pursue a methodology of choice. By forming chimeras with PAS domains of other oxygen sensing proteins we hope to identify common signal transduction strategies for oxygen receptors. Ecological role of bacterial behavior to oxygen. Studies in collaboration with Dr. Igor Zhulin and other investigators are aimed at determining how aerotaxis provides a selective advantage to bacteria in their natural environment. Important findings include evidence that the bacteria migrate to a niche where the cellular energy levels are highest for growth. E. coli does not sense oxygen directly. Instead, Aer and Tsr monitor the energy level of the bacteria. By monitoring their own energy, bacteria can avoid not only hypoxic micro-environments but other environments that do not support maximal energy in the bacteria. The concept of energy-sensing has been proposed previously but the Aer signal transduction pathway now provides a mechanism for energy-sensing behavior.