Department of Biochemistry
4-403 BSB
Iowa City, IA 52242-1109 USA
phone: 877-846-8569
or 319-335-7932
fax: (319) 335-9570
biochem@uiowa.edu
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Department of Biochemistry
Eric Taylor, PhD
Carver College of Medicine
University of Iowa
51 Newton Rd, 4-372 BSB
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: (319) 384-4098
Lab Phone: (319) 335-7500
Fax: (319) 335-9570
eric-taylor@uiowa.edu
Research Interests
Figure1. The mitochondrial network in a cultured muscle cell.
Mitochondria are the engine of eukaryotic cellular metabolism. Mitochondria sustain cells with a continuous supply of ATP, replenish metabolic intermediates, and coordinate metabolic flux with numerous aspects of cellular biology. Accordingly, mitochondrial dysfunction is a root cause of devastating diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and diabetes.
The Taylor Lab is interested in the molecular mechanisms regulating mitochondrial function and their relationship to disease. Our research program is multidisciplinary, utilizing genetic, biochemical, cellular, and physiological experimental approaches. We have additional interest in problems related to skeletal muscle function and diabetes.
Our current research projects focus on novel proteins important for mitochondrial function. The first is on VMS1, a protein that recruits components of the ubiquitin proteasome system to stressed mitochondria to extract damaged proteins for presentation to the proteasome, thereby maintaining mitochondrial protein quality. Thus, VMS1 may be relevant to any disease involving progressive mitochondrial failure. The second is on the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC), which Dr. Taylor recently co-discovered. Mitochondrial pyruvate uptake is critical for ATP production by the TCA cycle and for generating the synthetic intermediates supporting fat, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism. Therefore, MPC function is essential for normal physiology and its disruption causes diverse and severe metabolic abnormalities. We are interested in discovering the mechanisms regulating the function of the MPC molecule. 
Figure 2. In the cytosol a single molecule of glucose is oxidized by glycolysis to two molecules of pyruvate. Pyruvate passively diffuses through pores in the outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) but requires transit through the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) to cross the inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) and reach the mitochondrial matrix. After reaching the matrix, pyruvate can be oxidized to CO2 by the TCA cycle to produce ATP and extract most of the energy available in the original glucose molecule. Mitochondrial pyruvate is also the major substrate supporting the anabolic processes of gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis.
Selected Publications
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Bricker DK*, Taylor EB*, Schell JC*, Orsak T*, Boutron A, Chen YC, Cox JE, Cardon CM, Van Vranken J, Dephoure N, Redin C, Gygi SP, Brivet M, Thummel CS, and Rutter J. The MPC proteins are required for mitochondrial pyruvate uptake in yeast, Drosophila, and humans. Science. 2012 May 24, Online. PMID: 22628558. *Equal Authorship
Chen YC, Taylor EB, Dephoure N, Heo JM, Tonhato A, Papandreou I, Nath N, Denko NC, Gygi SP, Rutter J. Identification of a protein mediating respiratory supercomplex stability. Cell Metabolism. 2012 Mar 7;15(3):348-60. PMID: 22405070.
Taylor EB, Rutter J. Mitochondrial quality control by the ubiquitin-proteasome
system. Biochem Soc Trans. 2011 Oct 1; 39(5):1509-13. PMID: 21936843Heo JM, Livnat-Levanon N*, Taylor EB*, Jones KT*, Dephoure N, Ring J, Xie J, Brodsky JL, Madeo F, Gygi SP, Ashrafi K, Glickman MH, Rutter J. A stress-responsive system for mitochondrial protein degradation. Molecular Cell. 2010 Nov 12;40(3):465-80. PMID: 21070972. *Equal authorship
Treebak JT, Taylor EB, Witczak CA, An D, Toyoda T, Koh HJ, Xie J, Feener EP, Wojtaszewski JF, Hirshman MF, Goodyear LJ. Identification of a novel phosphorylation site on TBC1D4 regulated by AMP-activated protein kinase in skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2010 Feb;298(2):C377-85. PMID: 19923418
Taylor EB, An D, Kramer HF, Yu H, Fujii NL, Hirshman MF, Bowles N, Roeckl KS, Xie J, Feener EP, Goodyear LJ. Discovery of TBC1D1 as an Insulin-, AICAR-, and Contraction-stimulated Signaling Nexus in Mouse Skeletal Muscle. J Biol Chem. 2008; 283(15):9787-96. PMID: 18276596
Taylor EB, Goodyear LJ. Targeting Skeletal Muscle AMPK-Activated Protein Kinase to Treat Type 2 Diabetes. Current Diabetes Reports. 2007; 7(6): 399-01. PMID: 18254999
Kramer HF, Taylor EB, Witczak CA, Fujii N, Hirshman MF, Goodyear LJ. The Calmodulin-binding Domain of AS160 Regulates Contraction- but not Insulin-stimulated Glucose Uptake in Skeletal Muscle. Diabetes. 2007; 56(12):2854-62PMID: 17717281
Taylor EB, Lamb JD, Hurst RW, Chesser DG, Ellingson WJ, Greenwood LJ, Porter BB, Herway ST, Winder WW. Endurance training increases skeletal muscle LKB1 and PGC-1α protein abundance: effects of time and intensity. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2005; 289(6):E960-8. PMID: 16014350
Taylor EB, Ellingson WJ, Lamb JD, Chesser DG, Winder WW. Long-chain acyl-CoA esters inhibit phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase at threonine 172 by LKB1/STRAD/MO25. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2005;288(6):E1055-61. PMID: 15644453
Visit Google Scholar for all of Dr. Eric Taylor's publications.- Affiliations:
Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center (FOEDRC)
University of Iowa Obesity Research and Education Initiative (OREI)
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center (HCCC)
University of Iowa Cardiovascular Research Center (CVC)
Molecular and Cellular Biology Program (MCB)
Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
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