This notice is posted on behalf of Wim Hol. Please send inquiries to him at
the email address at the bottom of the page.
Postdoctoral Position Available
Laboratory of Wim Hol
Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine
University of Washington, Seattle, USA
Structural Biology of the type II secretion system
from pathogenic bacteria
The projects in Wim Hol’s protein crystallography group at the University of
Washington are all focused on providing a basis for development of new
therapeutics for tropical diseases. This particular postdoctoral position is
within a collaborative project which aims to unravel the architecture,
mechanism of action and biogenesis of the” type II secretion system” (T2SS).
The sophisticated T2SS occurs in many pathogenic bacteria. This machinery is
responsible for translocating a wide variety of proteins in a folded state from
the periplasm across the outer membrane into the extracellular milieu. One of
these proteins is cholera toxin which has been studied intensively in the Hol
lab. The large T2SS consists of ~14 different proteins that span the inner and
the outer membrane, and is associated with a secretion ATPase in the cytoplasm
which provides the energy for the secretion process. Another remarkable feature
of the T2SS is a helical sub-assembly in the periplasm !
which is likely serving as a piston pushing cholera toxin and other
exoproteins through a pore in the outer membrane.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:
(i) carry out protein expression and protein chemistry studies to obtain
insight into protein-protein interactions involving the T2SS from pathogenic
bacteria like Vibrio cholera, enterotoxigenic E. coli, and other bacteria;
(ii) purify and characterize multi-membrane protein complexes;
(iii) determine high resolution crystal structures of multi-protein
sub-complexes of the machinery;
(iv) apply electron microscopy techniques in the laboratory of Dr. Tamir Gonen
to enhance our insight into the architecture and functioning of the T2SS;
(v) combine the results of electron microscopy and crystallography.
For more information regarding the laboratory of Wim Hol see the following
websites:
http://www.bmsc.washington.edu/WimHol/
http://depts.washington.edu/biowww/faculty/hol.html
and regarding the laboratory of Tamir Gonen:
http://depts.washington.edu/biowww/faculty/gonen.html
START DATE: Immediately
INSTITUTION: Department of Biochemistry
Biomolecular Structure Center
School of Medicine
Box 357742
University of Washington
Seattle, WA, 98195 USA
Requirements
Experience with membrane protein preparation, characterization and
crystallography.
Application
If you are interested, please send your CV, including a description of your
experience and technical know-how, a list of publications and presentations,
and names and email addresses of three references able to assess your
scientific experience and capabilities to: [email protected]
