PhD student - Mechanisms of cargo recognition by kinesin molecular motors

Wed Feb 09 12:59:52 CET 2022

Event date:
Wed Feb 09 12:59:52 CET 2022 - Wed Mar 09 12:59:00 CET 2022 | Wed Feb 09 12:59:52 CET 2022 - Wed Mar 09 12:59:00 CET 2022

The Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences announces a selection procedure in accordance with the Act No. 283/1992 Coll. on the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Statutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences for a position

PhD student - Mechanisms of cargo recognition by kinesin molecular motors

Project: The project is aimed at structure-function studies of anterograde transport mediated by conventional kinesins and their interactions with cargo molecules. We will use a bottom-up approach to analyze a kinesin/cargo transport system at the molecular level. To this end, we will express and purify individual protein components to reconstitute kinesin/cargo complexes and analyze their structural and functional properties. We will apply mutagenesis, biophysical approaches (microscale thermophoresis, analytical ultracentrifugation, SPR, FRET) and structural biology techniques (hydrogen/deuterium exchange, X-ray crystallography, SAXS, cryoEM) to pinpoint motifs mediating cargo/kinesin interactions and delineate the interaction interface(s). The total internal reflection microscopy will be used to visualize the complexes and elucidate their functional properties up to the single molecule level in vitro. Finally, neuronal cell-based assays will be exploited to translate and validate in vitro data in a physiologically relevant environment of the axonal transport. Overall, we expect our data to contribute to our understanding of general molecular mechanisms governing kinesin activation and principles of a protein transport in (neuronal) cells.

Qualifications: Applicants should have a solid background in molecular biology, biochemistry, or cell biology. We expect good communication skills, analytical thinking, and the ability for teamwork. The successful candidate will participate in a PhD program at the Charles University, Prague. The starting date is summer/fall 2022.

 Application deadline: 9.3.2022

 How to Apply: For more information, please contact Cyril Bařinka (cyril.barinka@ibt.cas.cz) directly.

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https://www.ibt.cas.cz/cs/o-ustavu/oficialni-dokumenty/gdpr/.