Applications are invited for a fully-funded Ph.D. studentship at the Biophysical Sciences Institute at Durham University (UK). to work on bacterial metal-sensors and their inhibition.
Project description The aim is to understand how cells detect different metals. You will (1) purify DNA-binding metal-sensing transcriptional-regulators and generate crystals for structural determinations, (2) test metal-chelating compounds proposed to interfere with metal-binding, metal-sensing, (3) measure metal-affinities of the sensor proteins using small molecule probes. This work will be an integral part of a major research project aiming to extend our understanding of metal-selectivity by these proteins: How is the correct sensor in the set triggered by the correct metal? The supervisory team includes a biologist specialized in the cell biology of metals, a structural biologists experienced in determining structures of bacterial metal sensor proteins and bio-inorganic chemist expert in the synthesis and characterization of small molecule metal-complexes. Further details can be found at: http://www.dur.ac.uk/biosciences/postgrad/current_phd/ Informal inquiries are welcome to nigel.robin...@durham.ac.uk or ehmke.p...@durham.ac.uk
