Gabrielle Taylor

Molecular Biology | Protein Biochemistry | Microbiology

Molecular Biology

Protein Biochemistry

Microbiology

About Me

With a background in molecular biology and protein biochemistry, I bring hands-on expertise in recombinant protein expression, purification (including ÄKTA systems), and biochemical assay design. My academic research has equipped me with the critical thinking, problem-solving, and technical precision required for industrial R&D settings. I am now seeking opportunities where I can apply and expand these skills in a team-focused, fast-paced environment. And I am always happy to learn something new.

Education & Experience

Postdoctoral Scholar

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, USA

2023 – 2025

Studied protein-based organelles called bacterial microcompartments (BMCs), which compartmentalise metabolic pathways in bacteria. Optimised expression and anaerobic purification workflows for BMCs and their native, oxygen-sensitive cargo proteins from Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Designed and refined biochemical assays to support high-throughput screening for peptide-based inhibitors of BMC assembly.

PhD in Microbiology and Immunology

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

2016 – 2022

Studied proteolytic regulation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, focusing on the essential ClpCP protease complex and its dysregulation by a natural antimicrobial peptide. Identified toxin-antitoxin systems as targets of the ClpCP protease using interaction and degradation assays (FEBS J, 2021). Demonstrated that the natural compound cyclomarin A disrupts protease function by overactivating ClpC1, leading to toxic degradation (J Biol Chem, 2022). Showed that the paralog ClpC2 protects cells by binding and sequestering cyclomarin A, supported by structural studies including a co-crystal structure (PDB: 8AD9) (Commun Biol, 2023) This work included experimental techniques ranging from microbiology to protein biochemistry and structural biology.

Research Technician

University of York, UK

2013 – 2016

Worked on a synthetic biology project exploring the use of bacteriophage-encoded enzymes for DNA assembly and genome engineering. Generated integrative vectors for Streptomyces and Burkholderia spp., and purified and characterised novel serine integrases using gel-based assays and recombination tests. Collaborated closely with colleagues to demonstrate a modular platform for pathway assembly, enabling the reconstitution of antibiotic biosynthesis in Streptomyces. The project supported synthetic biology approaches to engineer bacteria for the production of valuable natural products.

MRes in Biochemical Research

Imperial College London, UK

2011 – 2012

Completed three research projects on antibacterial proteins, bacterial pathogenesis in Shigella, and innate immune responses using C. elegans. Contributed to the structural characterisation of DfsB proteins via X-ray crystallography, leading to deposition of PDB entry 5COM and co-authorship on a peer-reviewed publication ( J Mol Biol, 2016). Developed skills in structural biology, molecular cloning, mutagenesis screens, and genetic assays.

BSc in Biological Sciences (Biochemistry)

University of Edinburgh, UK

2007 – 2011

Core Capabilities

Publications

  1. Taylor, G., Cui, H., Leodolter, J., Giese, C., and Weber-Ban, E. (2023). ClpC2 protects mycobacteria against a natural antibiotic targeting ClpC1-dependent protein degradation . Commun Biol, 6, 301.
  2. Taylor, G., Frommherz, Y., Katikaridis, P., Layer, D., Sinning, I., Carroni, M., Weber-Ban, E. and Mogk, A. (2022) Antibacterial peptide cyclomarin A creates toxicity by deregulating the Mycobacterium tuberculosis ClpC1-ClpP1P2 protease . J Biol Chem, 298, 102202.
  3. Ziemski, M.#, Leodolter, J.#, Taylor, G.#, Kerschenmeyer, A. and Weber-Ban, E. (2021). Genome-wide interaction screen for Mycobacterium tuberculosis ClpCP protease reveals toxin-antitoxin systems as a major substrate class. FEBS J, 288, 111–126.
    Awarded the FEBS Journal Richard Perham Prize 2022.
  4. Gao, H., Taylor, G., Evans, S. K., Fogg, P. C. M. and Smith, M. C. M. (2020). Application of serine integrases for secondary metabolite pathway assembly in Streptomyces. Syn Syst Biotechnol, 5, 111–119
  5. Maurer, M., Linder, D., Franke, K. B., Jager, J., Taylor, G., Gloge, F., Gremer, S., Le Breton, L., Mayer, M. P., Weber-Ban, E., Carroni, M., Bukau, B. and Mogk, A. (2019). Toxic activation of an AAA+ protease by the antibacterial drug cyclomarin A. Cell Chem Biol, 26, 1169–1179.
  6. Taylor, J. D., Taylor, G., Hare, S. A., Matthews, S. J. (2016). Structures of the DfsB protein family suggest a cationic, helical sibling-lethal factor peptide. J Mol Biol, 428, 554–560.
  7. Fayed, B., Younger, E., Taylor, G. and Smith, M. C. M. (2014). A novel Streptomyces spp. integration vector derived from the S. venezuelae phage, SV1. BMC Biotechnol, 14:51.

# Authors contributed equally to this work.

Conferences & Presentations

Contact

Gabrielle Taylor

Email: ge.mwtaylor@gmail.com | LinkedIn: Gabrielle Taylor

Email: ge.mwtaylor@gmail.com

LinkedIn: Gabrielle Taylor