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PhD Research Project: Development of novel nano-agents to target DNA replication forks and modulate

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
United Kingdom
Closing date
Feb 19, 2019

Job Details

Details

We have developed a novel class of metal-based cylinders that bind to DNA Y-shaped junctions. These cylinders show an exciting activity to push rapidly dividing cells into cytostasis (in cell line studies) but we want to further understand the basic cell and molecular biology of these agents in more detail specifically: (i) how they enter the cell and where (and how quickly) they localise, (ii) how they interact with key biomolecules in the cell such as genomic DNA and the downstream cellular effects of those interactions and (iii) the resultant properties in in vitro cellular systems.

To facilitate this we will we will use existing cylinders in combination with development of newly modified cylinders (e.g. His-tagged, fluorescently labeled and cylinders with different metal centres) to image and further study cylinder cellular interactions and develop novel imaging tools to directly study biologically important DNA transactions (e.g. DNA replication forks) inside of cells by measuring incorporation of fluorescent base analogues and also using isolated DNA under laminar sheer flow. This technique will allow us to analyze the impact of cylinders on rates of replication fork progression, frequency of fork stalling or collapse, and also will provide insights into the cellular response to cylinder exposure (compensatory origin firing, effect on nearby replication structures). In parallel, we will use a modified version of the iron cylinder, which will be amenable to cross-linking by ‘click' chemistry by virtue of the presence of several alkyne groups, to identify proteins bound to the DNA within the vicinity of the cylinder.

We will complement this with biochemical studies - mechanism of induction of apoptosis and detection of direct evidence of interference with DNA replication by measuring DNA strand breaks using the comet assay and biophysical studies of interactions with individual biomolecules to build up a picture of the molecular interactions occurring in the cell. Synchrotron X-ray studies at Diamond (XRF and XANES, using the properties of the metals) on the cylinders in cells and on cylinders bound to key biomolecules will afford further information on localisation and biomolecular targets: TEM on cryo-sectioned cells and soft X-ray tomography on whole cells will provide detail on effects on organelles.

 

Funding Notes

The project is funded by the BBSRC MIBTP Doctoral Training programme and subject to the eligibility rules of the BBSRC. Applicants will be considered competitively for the scheme.

 

References

Non-covalent Metallo-Drugs: Using shape to target DNA and RNA junctions and other nucleic acid structures L. Cardo and M. J. Hannon, Metals in Life Sciences, Volume 18, Chapter 11, 2018, 303-324 (Ed. R. Sigel, H. Sigel, A. Sigel), De Gruyter

Noncovalent DNA-Binding Metallo-Supramolecular Cylinders Prevent DNA Transactions in vitro

C. Ducani, A. Leczkowska, N.J. Hodges, M.J. Hannon, Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed., 2010, 49, 8942-8945, DOI: 10.1002/anie.201004471

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."

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