PH.D. AND POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS ON STRUCTURAL/FUNCTIONAL
CHARACTERISATION OF PROTEIN INTERACTION NETWORKS IN YEAST
Two Ph.D. fellowships and one postdoctoral fellowship are available in
the research group of Matthias Wilmanns at EMBL-Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Src Homology 3 (SH3) domains are modular protein domains which are found
in hundreds of multifunctional proteins from the human genome and tens
of similar proteins in eukaryotic model organisms such as S. cerevisiae.
Many of these proteins are involved in signalling and the organisation
of the cytoskeleton, for instance. Although the structure and canonical
binding site for proline-rich ligands has been well studied over more
than a decade it remains largely unknown by what kind of mechanism many
of known SH3-domains containing proteins are sorted to correct protein
ligands within complex cellular networks, to allow their proper function
in living systems.
The key aim of our future research will be to identify the molecular
structural basis of cellular protein networks that are mediated by SH3
domain containing proteins, using four yeast species (S. cerevisiae, S.
pombe, A. gossypii, C. albicans) as models:
1) We are planning to determine structures of SH3 domain containing
multifunctional proteins, to unravel their domain organisation, which
may be important for correct folding and regulation of SH3 domain
mediated protein/protein interactions.
2) We are aiming to determine structures of SH3 domain mediated
protein/protein complexes, to provide insight into the molecular
organisation of SH3 domains within complex protein networks in living
systems.
3) We will exploit our structural data to explore the use of SH3 domains
for drug discovery approaches, using both computational and experimental
screening methods (a large depository of structures from S. cerevisiae
is already available).
4) We will probe structure-based function by in vitro and in vivo
approaches, by employing genetics, imaging techniques, and cell biology
approaches.
Ph.D. fellowship candidates: Please apply at our central web pages:
http://www.embl.org/training/phdprogramme/intro.html
The deadline for the next selection is: May 31, 2007.
Postdoctoral candidates: Please send your complete CV, including a list
of publications, a statement of your present achievements and expertise,
a list at least three addresses, from where letters of reference can be
obtained. Previous experience in molecular biology, biochemistry,
biophysical methods and X-ray crystallography is essential. The approach
of our group is to integrate structural data into functional
investigations. Please apply directly to Dr. Matthias Wilmanns,
Notkestrasse 85, D-22603 Hamburg, Germany. Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Further information about group activities:
www.embl-hamburg.de/~wilmanns/home.html
The projects are supported by two EU networks, 3D Repertoire
(www.3drepertoire.org/) and Penelope (penelope.crg.es), and EMBL.
