Position overview:

A 3-year PhD student position (30h/week) is available to investigate the mechanisms by which energy-consuming enzymes such as RNA helicases and AAA-ATPases facilitate the assembly of eukaryotic ribosomes. This research will be conducted in the group of Valentin Mitterer at the Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz.

 

About the project:

The biogenesis of eukaryotic ribosomes is one of the major activities of any growing cell, requiring the coordinated activity of over 200 assembly factors to ensure the efficient and accurate assembly of both ribosomal subunits. These factors drive a complicated cascade of rRNA processing and maturation steps essential to produce mature, translation-competent ribosomes. Among the plethora of assembly factors, specific energy-consuming enzymes, such as RNA helicases and AAA-ATPases, promote particularly important assembly steps of both ribosomal subunits, thereby also ensuring the unidirectional progression of the assembly pathway. RNA helicases may unwind and re-arrange distinct rRNA structures or separate snoRNAs or protein complexes from the rRNA. AAA-ATPases utilize the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to generate mechanical force, which allows them to extract their distinct ligand proteins from ribosomal precursor complexes. The project will involve a combination of genetic, biochemical, and structural biology methods using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism.

 

Your profile:

Candidates with a background in biosciences, particularly with skills in biochemistry and molecular biology, are encouraged to apply. Prior experience with yeast as model organism, purification of recombinantly expressed proteins from E. coli, or purification of native protein complexes from yeast cells would be advantageous but is not strictly required.

 

Application:

To apply for this position or for any inquiries, please send your application, including a CV and a brief description of your research interests and motivation, to valentin.mitterer(at)uni-graz.at. The preferred starting date is in September 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Fachgebiet

Biochemistry / Molecular biology

Arbeitgeber

Universität Graz

Arbeitsstätte

Institut für Molekulare Biowissenschaften

Bewerbungsfrist

31. Juli 2024

Kontakt

Valentin Mitterer
valentin.mitterer(at)uni-graz.at

Nach oben scrollen