4-year PhD student position in structural biology at the Turku Centre for Biotechnology, Turku, Finland.
The central focus of the project is to provide insights into the mechanism of the iron-binding protein Dpr from Streptococcus suis. Understanding the mechanistic details of Dpr will help in designing iron nanoparticles with novel properties for use in applied processes. The project will employ a multi- and interdisciplinary approach from molecular biology and protein chemistry to X-ray crystallography and biophysics. The techniques used include protein expression and purification, mutagenesis studies, crystallisations, protein structure determination, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, microcalorimetry, and magnetometry. A solid undergraduate background in protein biochemistry, molecular biology and/or biophysics is required. The student will need to be highly motivated and well-organised, have good spoken and written English and be able to take initiatives and to design experiments. To apply please send a cover letter explaining your motivation and inspirations for PhD studies, your complete CV with detailed records of academic performance, prior work experience with performed tasks, and contact information for at least two referees (one referee should be your most recent employer/supervisor) to: Tassos Papageorgiou, Turku Centre for Biotechnology, Tykistokatu 6, Turku 20521 Finland (applications by e-mail also acceptable) Closing date is November 20, 2007. Commencing date is January 2008. Related publications 1. Kauko, A., Pulliainen, A.T., Haataja, S., Meyer-Klaucke, W., Finne, J. & Papageorgiou, A.C. (2006). Iron incorporation in Streptococcus suis Dps-like peroxide resistance protein Dpr requires mobility in the ferroxidase center and leads to the formation of a ferrihydrite-like core. J. Mol. Biol. 364, 97-109 2. Pulliainen, A.T., Kauko, A., Haataja, S., Papageorgiou, A.C. & Finne, J. (2005). Dpr/Dps miniferritin: Insights into the mechanism of iron incorporation and evidence for a central role in cellular iron homeostasis in Streptococcus suis. Mol. Microbiol. 57, 1086-1100 3. Kauko, A., Haataja, S., Pulliainen, A.T., Finne, J. & Papageorgiou, A.C. (2004). Crystal structure of Streptococcus suis Dps-like peroxide resistance protein Dpr: Implications for iron incorporation. J. Mol. Biol. 338, 547-558 4. Haataja. S., Penttinen, A., Pulliainen, A.T., Tikkanen, K., Finne, J. & Papageorgiou, A.C. (2002). Expression, purification and crystallisation of Dpr, a ferritin-like protein from the gram-positive meningitis-associated bacterium Streptococcus suis. Acta Crystallogr. D. 58, 1851-1853 Tassos Papageorgiou -- A.C.(Tassos) Papageorgiou, PhD phone: +358 2 333 8012 (office) Adj. Professor, Group leader fax: +358 2 333 8000 Turku Centre for Biotechnology E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] BioCity, Turku URL: http://www.btk.fi/~apapageo FIN-20521, Finland
