JAMES TAYLOR

James graduated from the University of Southampton with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Biochemistry, before completing a Ph.D. at the University of Portsmouth in the laboratory of Prof. Geoff Kneale, graduating in 2005. James has continued his research at Portsmouth and is now a research fellow in the Biomolecular Structure group, funded by the Wellcome Trust. In January 2010, James began a joint position between the University of Sydney and ANSTO.

RESEARCH

James initially worked on Type I bacterial restriction-modification systems. He uses a wide range of molecular biology techniques for the cloning and purification of proteins for analysis by biophysical techniques such as EMSAs, light scattering, analytical ultracentrifugation (sedimentation equilibrium and sedimentation velocity) and small-angle neutron scattering, the latter requiring visits to the D22 beamline at the internationally recognised, Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble, France.

Our aim is to investigate the structure, activity, subunit interactions, and DNA-induced conformational changes of the endonuclease and methyltransferase complexes. Recently, we have been developing small angle neutron scattering techniques, making use of contrast variation and selective deuteration. EcoR124INT provides a tractable system for such studies. Each of the three subunits can now be prepared in soluble form, such that they can be separately deuterated. Additionally, we will analyse the interaction of the MTase and ENase with ocr, a small inhibitor protein that mimics DNA and blocks the DNA binding site of Type I enzymes.

James currently is investigating the structure and function of the interaction between calmodulin and MA (p17) from HIV.

EXTERNAL COLLABORATIONS 

Prof Geoff Kneale, University of Portsmouth, UK

Dr David Dryden, University of Edinburgh, UK

Dr Phil Callow, Institut Laue-Langevin ILL, Grenoble, France

Dr Jean-Bapiste Artero, Institut Laue-Langevin ILL, Grenoble, France

Co-proposer and member of Block Allocation Group BAG, ILL Grenoble

Member of the Canadian Institute for Neutron Scattering CINS

Member of the ATSAS Moderation Staff for the SAS forum SAXIER

Member of the SAXIER Moderation Staff for the SAS forum SAXIER

Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) Facebook