We are looking for a PhD student (f/m) starting on 1 November 2022 or on 1 
January 2023 in our team at the Institut de Biologie Structurale ( [ 
https://www.ibs.fr/ | IBS ] ) in Grenoble, France working on the 

Structure of the vaccinia virus DNA replication machinery in complex with DNA 
substrates by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy 

With the recent spread of monkeypox infections, poxviruses got into the 
headlines. Our team works on the elucidation of structure and function of the 
poxvirus DNA replication machinery, now mainly by single-particle cryo-electron 
microscopy. The DNA replication of vaccinia virus, a safe model system, 
involves the DNA polymerase holoenzyme complex E9-A20-D4, furthermore the 
hexameric helicase-primase D5. The aim is to determine structures of these 
assemblies by cryo-EM with bound DNA substrates, nucleotides, inhibitors and 
nucleotide analogues in order to stabilize different functional states for the 
understanding of poxvirus DNA replication. The project builds on the team’s 
experiences in the structure determination and biophysical characterization of 
the partners and their domains, our recent results on the cryo-EM of the 
helicase domain of D5 and first results by cryo-EM on the holoenzyme. 

The candidate should be computer literate and have some experience in the use 
of Linux. Knowledge of relevant software packages used for cryo-EM will be an 
asset. Furthermore, a sound background in biochemistry, physics or biophysics 
is required as the project comprises multiple methods : protein production in 
the baculovirus-insect cell system; protein purification by affinity 
chromatography; sample preparation for cryo-EM. structure calculations for 
single-particle cryo-EM on a Linux computing cluster; analysis and 
visualization of protein structures. 

The successful candidate will work in a [ 
https://www.ibs.fr/research/research-groups/viral-replication-machines-group-m-jamin/team-burmeister/article/burmeister-team
 | small team interested in poxvirus DNA
        replication ] directed by Prof. Wim Burmeister within the « [ 
https://www.ibs.fr/research/research-groups/viral-replication-machines-group-m-jamin/
 | Viral Replication Machines group ] ». Cryo-EM and computing facilities are 
available on the research campus, which is shared with international 
institutes: the EMBL Grenoble outstation, the ESRF synchrotron and the ILL 
research reactor. Working lang u ages of the institu t e are English and 
French. Grenoble is a mid-size town with an international atmosphere located in 
the middle of the French Alps. The net salary is about 1750 €/month ( ~ 2000 € 
gross salary ), 

In order to candidate please send a CV, a letter of motivation and a copy of 
the Master diploma with marks to [ mailto:[email protected] | 
[email protected] ] before 30 September, 2022. 

Bibliography 

Tarbouriech N, Ducournau C, Hutin S, Mas PJ, Man P, Forest E, Hart DJ, 
Peyrefitte CN, Burmeister WP & Iseni F. The vaccinia virus DNA polymerase 
structure provides insights into the mode of processivity factor binding. Nat 
Commun. 2017;8: 1455.* doi:10.1038/s41467-017-01542-z. 

Bersch B, Tarbouriech N, Burmeister WP, Iseni F. Solution structure of the 
C-terminal domain of A20, the missing brick for the characterization of the 
interface between vaccinia virus DNA polymerase and its processivity factor. J 
Mol Biol. 2021; 167009.* doi:10.1016/j.jmb.2021.167009. 

Hutin, S., Ling, W.L., Tarbouriech, N., Schoehn, G, Grimm, G., Fischer, U. & 
Burmeister, W.P. The vaccinia virus DNA helicase structure from combined 
single-particle cryo-electron microscopy and AlphaFold2 prediction. Viruses. In 
press. 
-- 
Wim Burmeister 


Professeur 
Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS) CIBB 
71 avenue des Martyrs / CS 20192 
38044 Grenoble Cedex 9 , FRANCE 
E-mail: [ mailto:[email protected] | [email protected] ] 
Tel: +33 (0) 457 42 87 41 Fax: +33 (0) 476 20 94 00 
[ 
http://www.ibs.fr/research/research-groups/viral-replication-machines-group-m-jamin/team-03/article/poxvirus-replication-machinery-presentation/
 | website ] [ 
https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=45.20762&mlon=5.69255#map=17/45.20762/5.69255
 | map ] 

Changement climatique : «Les autres combats n’ont aucun sens si celui-là est 
perdu» ( Aurélien Barrau ) 







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