Dr. Jackson Taylor

Epigenetic Control of Health and Age-Related Disease

Every cell in the body carries the same DNA, yet we have thousands of different cell types. Our cells must also constantly adapt to stress, aging, and environmental changes. Cellular identity and adaptability both rely on our cells’ ability to dynamically regulate the activity level of each of our ~20,000 genes. The Taylor Lab studies how cells control gene activity to stay healthy, and how breakdowns in this control during the aging process can lead to disease.

Our research focuses on epigenetic modifications to the genome (collectively known as the epigenome) — a system of chemical tags to DNA and associated proteins, which is a major determinant of gene activity. These modifications are flexible and responsive, helping cells adapt, but they can also become disrupted, leading to disease. Importantly, epigenetic modifications can also be readily re-written through experimental manipulation, providing an ideal target for therapeutic intervention. We are particularly focused on the enzyme Sirt6, which is a major regulator of epigenetic modifications and is highly implicated in maintaining health and longevity.

We use fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) to as a primary model system because they can be easily genetically modified, with tens of thousands of genetically modified strains already available, and have a short generation time (10 days, with an average lifespan of ~50 days in the lab), thus providing a powerful system in which to rapidly study gene regulation and disease across the whole lifespan. In addition, Drosophila have similar versions of many human genes, and thus Drosophila research offers excellent translatability to human health. Our research incorporates many approaches, including next-generation sequencing and bioinformatic analysis, genetic engineering, and population longevity experiments.

Our ultimate aim is to uncover basic biological principles and therapeutic targets that may guide new approaches to improving human health.

Most recently, we discovered that increasing levels of the epigenetic-modifier gene Sirt6 extends lifespan and preserves physical activity with age in flies. This pro-longevity effect of increased Sirt6 levels is mediated through enhanced deacetylation of Myc target genes, leading to their transcriptional repression, which in turn leads to decreased protein synthesis – a phenotype associated with slowed aging. Currently our lab is focused on identifying additional molecular and tissue-specific mechanisms by which Sirt6 regulates aging, and exploring the potential role of Sirt6 in Alzheimer’s Disease. We are also performing screens to identify new epigenetic modifiers of aging.

The Taylor lab was established at Cleveland State University in Fall, 2022. Dr. Taylor received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 2013, and performed his postdoctoral training at Wake Forest Health Sciences (2013-2016) and Brown University (2016-2022).

Selected Publications:

Taylor JR, Wood JW, Chang CC, Mizerak EM, Finn M, Liu JL, Hinthorne SL, Gordon S, Hutfilz CR, Klein MA, Denu JM, Gorbunova V, Boeke JD, Sedivy JM, Helfand SL. Sirt6 regulates lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022

Gorbunova V, Seluanov A, Mita P, Boeke JD, Linker S, Gage FH, Kreiling JA, Petrashen AP, Taylor JR, Helfand SL, Sedivy JM. The involvement of transposable elements in aging and age-associated diseases. Nature, 2021

Taylor JR, Reynolds L, Hou L, Lohman K, Cui W, Kritchevsky S, McCall C, Liu Y. Transcriptomic profiles of aging in naïve and memory CD4+ cells from mice. Immunity & Ageing, 2017

Reynolds LM*, Taylor JR*, Ding J, Lohman K, Johnson C, Siscovick D, Burke G, Post W, Shea S, Jacobs DR Jr., Stunnenberg H, Kritchevsky SB, Hoeschele I, McCall CE, Herrington D, Tracy RP, Liu Y. Age-related variations in the methylome associated with gene expression in human monocytes and T cells. Nature Communications 2014 *co-first authors

Taylor JR, Zhang T, Messi ML, Wang ZM, Hereñú C, Kuan PF, Delbono O. (2014) The Cavβ1a Subunit Regulates Gene Expression and Suppresses Myogenin in Muscle Progenitor Cells. J Cell Biol., 205(6): 829-846.

(Last updated: 1/8/26)

Samira Xhaferi
Graduate Student

Roja Sharma
Graduate Student

Prema Singaravel
Graduate Student

Arjun Khanna
Graduate Student

Samarth Khanna
Laboratory Technician

Ella Franz
Undergraduate Researcher

Brianna Breazu
Undergraduate Researcher

Jingzhong Ding, Anh Tram Nguyen, Kurt Lohman, Michael T Hensley, Daniel Parker, Li Hou, Jackson Taylor, Deepak Voora, Janet K Sawyer, Elena Boudyguina, Michael P Bancks, Alain Bertoni, James S Pankow, Jerome I Rotter, Mark O Goodarzi, Russell P Tracy, David M Murdoch, Daniel Duprez, Stephen S Rich, Bruce M Psaty, David Siscovick, Christopher B Newgard, David Herrington, Ina Hoeschele, Steven Shea, James H Stein, Manesh Patel, Wendy Post, David Jacobs, John S Parks, Yongmei Liu. (2024) LXR signaling pathways link cholesterol metabolism with risk for prediabetes and diabetes. J Clin Invest. PMID: 38747290

Taylor JR, Wood JW, Chang CC, Mizerak EM, Finn M, Liu JL, Hinthorne SL, Gordon S, Hutfilz CR, Klein MA, Denu JM, Gorbunova V, Boeke JD, Sedivy JM, Helfand SL. (2022) Sirt6 regulates lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster. PNAS. PMID: 35091469

Gorbunova V, Seluanov A, Mita P, Boeke JD, Linker S, Gage FH, Kreiling JA, Petrashen AP, Taylor JR, Helfand SL, Sedivy JM. (2021) The involvement of transposable elements in aging and age associated diseases. Nature. PMID: 34349292

Taylor JR, Reynolds L, Hou L, Lohman K, Cui W, Kritchevsky S, McCall C, Liu Y. (2017) Transcriptomic profiles of aging in naïve and memory CD4+ cells from mice. Immunity & Ageing.  PMID: 28642803

Pereyra AS, Mykhaylyk O, Lockhart EF, Taylor JR, Delbono O, Goya RG, Plank C, Hereñu CB. (2016) Magnetofection Enhances Adenoviral Vector-based Gene Delivery in Skeletal Muscle Cells. J Nanomed Nanotechnol. PMID: 27274908

Reynolds LM, Wan M, Ding J, Taylor JR, Lohman K, Su D, Bennett BD, Porter DK, Gimple R, Pittman GS, Wang X, Howard TD, Siscovick D, Psaty BM, Shea S, Burke GL, Jacobs DR Jr, Rich SS, Hixson JE, Stein JH, Stunnenberg H, Barr RG, Kaufman JD, Post WS, Hoeschele I, Herrington DM, Bell DA, Liu Y. (2015) DNA Methylation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Repressor Associations with Cigarette Smoking and Subclinical Atherosclerosis. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. PMID: 26307030

Zhang T, Taylor JR, Pereyra AS, Messi ML, Wang ZM, Hereñú C, and Delbono O. (2015) Troponin T3 regulates nuclear localization of the calcium channel Cavβ1a subunit in skeletal muscle. Exp Cell Res. PMID: 25981458

Reynolds LM, Ding J, Taylor JR, Lohman K, Soranzo S, de la Fuente A, Liu TF, Johnson C, Barr G, Register TC, Donohue KM, Talor M, Cihakova D, Gu C, Divers J, Kuo J, Siscovick D, Burke G, Post W, Shea S, Jacobs DR Jr., Kritchevsky SB, Hoeschele I, McCall CE, Herrington D, Tracy RP, Liu Y. (2015) Transcriptomic profiles of aging in purified human immune cells. BMC Genomics. PMID: 25898983

Reynolds LM*, Taylor JR*, Ding J, Lohman K, Johnson C, Siscovick D, Burke G, Post W, Shea S, Jacobs DR Jr., Stunnenberg H, Kritchevsky SB, Hoeschele I, McCall CE, Herrington D, Tracy RP, Liu Y. (2014) Age-related variations in the methylome associated with gene expression in human monocytes and T cells. Nature Commun. PMID: 25404168 *co-first authors.

Taylor JR, Zhang T, Messi ML, Wang ZM, Hereñú C, Kuan PF, Delbono O. (2014) The Cavβ1a Subunit Regulates Gene Expression and Suppresses Myogenin in Muscle Progenitor Cells. J Cell Biol. PMID: 24934157

Taylor JR, Delbono O. (2012) Sarcopenia should be defined as an age-related condition based on clinical but not cellular features.
Commentaries on Viewpoint: Muscle atrophy is not always sarcopenia. J Appl Physiol., 113(4): 680-684.

Zhang T, Birbrair A, Wang ZM, Taylor JR, Messi ML, Delbono O. (2013) Troponin T nuclear localization and its role in aging skeletal muscle. Age (Dordr). PMID: 22189912

Taylor JR, Lehmann BD, Chappell WH, Abrams SL, Steelman LS, McCubrey JA. (2011) Cooperative effects of akt-1 and raf-1 on the induction of cellular senescence in Doxorubicin or tamoxifen treated breast cancer cells. Oncotarget. PMID: 21881167

Taylor JR, Zheng Z, Wang ZM, Payne AM, Messi ML, Delbono O. (2009) Increased CaVbeta1A expression with aging contributes to skeletal muscle weakness. Aging Cell. PMID: 19663902

Steelman LS, Navolanic PN, Sokolosky M, Taylor JR, Lehmann BD, Chappell WH, Abrams SL, Wong EW, Stadelman K, Terrian DM, Leslie N, Martelli AM, Stivala F, Libra M, Franklin RA, McCubrey JA. (2008) Suppression of PTEN function increases breast cancer chemotherapeutic drug resistance while conferring sensitivity of mTOR inhibitors. Oncogene. PMID: 18332865

McCubrey JA, Sokolosky ML, Lehmann BD, Taylor JR, Navolanic PM, Chappell WH, Abrams SL, Stadelman KM, Wong EW, Misaghian N, Horn S, Bäsecke J, Libra M, Stivala F, Ligresti G, Tafuri A, Milella M, Zarzycki M, Dzugaj A, Chiarini F, Evangelisti C, Martelli AM, Terrian DM, Franklin RA, Steelman LS. (2008) Alteration of Akt activity increases chemotherapeutic drug and hormonal resistance in breast cancer yet confers an achilles heel by sensitization to targeted therapy. Adv Enzyme Regul. PMID: 18423407