Richard E. Taylor

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Biography

B.S., SUNY Oswego, 1987

Ph.D., Rensselaer, 1992 (Arthur G. Schultz) 1992. 1992-1995, he did

Postdoctoral, Stanford University, 1992-1995 (Paul A. Wender)

Assistant Professor, University of Notre Dame, 1995-2001

Associate Professor, University of Notre Dame, 2001-2004

Professor, University of Notre Dame, 2004-present

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HONORS AND AWARDS

2007 Rev. Edmund P. Joyce Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching

2007 Silveira Distinguished Lecturer, Oswego State University

2002 Kaneb Teaching Award

2000 Eli Lilly Grantee Award

1998 NSF Early Career Award

 

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Research Interests

Our group has investigated a number of complex polyketide natural products, with unique or unknown modes of action. Our expertise in the area of synthesis, conformational analysis and polyketide biosynthesis has placed us in a unique position to fully exploit these lead structures potential as therapeutic agents. In the last four years the we have completed the total synthesis of the epothilones A, B, C and D, myriaporones 1, 3 and 4, and most recently, the marine polyketide, peloruside A. In addition, we have prepared modified versions of these compounds, analogues, to learn more about the importance of key structural features with unique perspective focused on the determination of the bound conformation. Through our detailed study of several designed epothilones we proposed a bound conformation that was later independently supported by NMR studies of the protein-bound ligand. Moreover, we identified unique analogues that were patented and licensed to the pharmaceutical industry for further development. Our group has demonstrated that the information gained from what we have termed conformation-activity relationships complements classic SAR with the goal of providing a detailed pharmacophore model and assist in the design of future chemotherapeutic agents. Another unique aspect of our analogue design strategy is the exploitation of biosynthetic enzymes called polyketide synthases. We have demonstrated the semi-synthetic production of epothilone natural products and analogues through the use of genetically engineered organisms thus alleviating any concerns about the high cost of total synthesis of compounds of this complexity. In addition to our successful total syntheses and medicinal chemistry efforts, our group has already contributed significantly to the field of organic synthesis through the development of a number of new synthetic methodologies that solved key problems in our targeted efforts.

 

Synthetic Methodology and Total Synthesis

Conformation-Activity Relationships

Polyketide Synthases and Biosynthesis

 

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Recent Papers

Hines, J.; Roy, M.; Cheng, H.; Agapakis, C. M.; Taylor, R. E.; Crews, C. M. “Myriaporone 3/4 SAR Studies Reveal a Novel Pharmacophore Targeting Eukaryotic Protein Synthesis” Molecular Biosystems 2006, 2, 371-379.
Link
Jin, M.; Taylor, R. E. “The Total Synthesis of Peloruside A” Org. Lett. 2005, 7, 1303-1305.
Link
Liu, K.; Taylor, R. E.; Kartika, R. “Electrophile-Induced Ether Transfer: A New Approach to Polyketide Structural Units” Org. Lett. 2006, 8, 5393-5395. Link
Kartika, R.; Taylor, R. E. “Electrophile-Induced Ether Transfer: Stereoselective Synthesis of 2,4,6-Trisubstituted Pyrans” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2007, 46, 6874-6877.
Link
Fleming, K. N.; Taylor, R. E. "Total Synthesis and Stereochemical Assignment of Myriaporones 1, 3, and 4" Angew. Chem. Int Ed. 2004, 43, 1728-1730. Link
Full publication list
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