One postdoctoral position funded by NIH is available immediately at the Center
for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The
University of Texas Houston Medical School (http://www.uth.tmc.edu/cmb/). The
fellow will focus on structural determination of membrane proteins as a
function of membrane phospholipid composition. Specifically, we have
established that half of the transmembrane domains of lactose permease of E.
coli are inverted with respect to the plane of the membrane bilayer in cells
lacking the major phospholipid phosphatidylethanolamine (see Annu Rev
Biochem.<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19489728?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum>
78:515-40, 2009 for a review). The funded project is to obtain a
high-resolution structure of the mis-oriented permease by either 2D or 3D
crystallography. The ideal candidate should be a self-motivated individual and
have a recent PhD degree in structural biology or biochemistry with
demonstrated protein crystallization, structural determination and associated
software experience. The laboratory is located in the Texas Medical Center
campus, which provides an excellent environment for academia and research. The
lab is fully equipped for protein x-ray crystallographic study, including a
Graphon LCP crystallization robot, a Rigaku rotating anode X-ray home source
and immediate access to the Berkeley ALS beamline 4.2.2 in the framework of the
molecular biology consortium. To apply or request further information, please
directly contact: Dr. William Dowhan (E-mail:
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>). The application
should include a current resume and the names and addresses of three references.
