Skip to main content

This job has expired

PhD Research Project: Role of Ubiquitin in DNA replication and damage.

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
United Kingdom
Closing date
Jan 9, 2017

Job Details

Details

Every dividing cell needs to duplicate its genome perfectly before cell division. When mistakes happen during replication they do need to be efficiently repaired by DNA damage repair (DDR) mechanisms. Failure to do so can result in cell death or development of mutations leading to cancer. It is essential therefore to understand the mechanism of eukaryotic DNA replication and DDR, how they are regulated in normal cells, how they misregulation contributes to tumorigenesis and how this misregulation can be exploited in the treatment of cancer. The proposed project is focusing on studying how ubiquitylation regulates chromosomal replication and DDR.
Ubiquitylation is a posttranslational modification of substrate proteins by attachment of one or many ubiquitins (small protein). Ubiquitylation is very flexible and versatile and regulates almost every aspect of cell biology. Not surprisingly it is essential for proper DDR and we have shown that polyubiquitylation is essential for a truly enigmatic stage of DNA replication – its termination (Moreno et al. Science, 2014). This project provides therefore and exciting opportunity to follow up this discovery, use established techniques and unravel new essential regulatory roles for this amazing modification.
DNA replication is such a fundamental biological process that it is incredibly well conserved throughout evolution and DDR processes have been studied in many different model systems. The aim of this project is to carry out our work in the best model system available to answer the biological question in mind. We have expertise in the lab using a cell-free system of Xenopus laevis egg extract as it provides a simpler model system to study DNA replication. We also work with human cell lines and collaborate with groups working with buddying yeast S.cerevisiae and worm C.elenags. We use biochemistry, proteomics but also genomic modifications (CRISPR/Cas9), cell biology techniques and microscopy.
Importantly, enzymes attaching ubiquitin to substrates (ubiquitin ligases) and removing it (deubiquitylating enzymes, DUBs) were shown to be druggable. It is essential therefore to consider studied processes and enzymes as potential targets for cancer therapies. Indeed first drugs affecting ubiquitylation regulating DNA replication are now being tested in clinical trials as future cancer therapies.

This is a BBSRC-funded MIBTP studentship.
How to apply: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/pgstudy/phd_opportunities/

How Students Apply
Students are asked to:
1. Check your eligibility - http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/pgstudy/phd_opportunities/application/#Eligibility
2. Notify MIBTP of your application by completing an online notification form - http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/pgstudy/phd_opportunities/application/submission/

Funding Notes

About the Studentship
This is the Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership and is a BBSRC funded studentship collaboration between us, Leicester and Warwick. The deadline for BBSRC MIBTP applications is the end of January. Applications are received via the online admissions system. As well as applying online, the applicants should also be advised to check their ability through the MIBTP website and submit a notification form to Warwick.
BBSRC funding is known as the Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP) and information about the scheme can be found here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/about_mibtp/
Applicants must have all necessary paperwork completed by the deadline.

References

Moreno SP, Bailey R, Campion N, Herron S, Gambus A.
Polyubiquitylation drives replisome disassembly at the termination of DNA replication.
Science. 2014 Oct 24;346(6208):477-81. doi: 10.1126/science.1253585.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25342805

Company

Global Academy Jobs works with over 250 universities worldwide to promote academic mobility and international research collaboration. Global problems need international solutions. Our jobs board and emails reach the academics and researchers who can help.

"The globalisation of higher education continues apace, driving in turn the ongoing development of the global knowledge economy, striving for solutions to the world’s problems and educating a next generation of leaders and contributors."

Company info
Website

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert