Doktorander/utbildningsplats

Sahlgrenska akademin utlyser doktorandplatser med placering vid institutionen för biomedicin, institutionen för medicin och institutionen för neurovetenskap och fysiologi.
Doktorandplatserna avser två års utbildningsbidrag och två års doktorandanställning, alternativt fyra års doktorandanställning, och beräknas leda fram till doktorsexamen.
För mer information och ansökningsblankett se: http://www.sahlgrenska.gu.se/doktorandportalen/doktor_fran_start_till_mal/soka_doktorandplats/

http://www.sahlgrenska.gu.se/doktorandportalen/Doktor_Fran_start_till_mal/doktorandplatser/

Mitochondrial DNA replication

Application deadline: 2010-12-08

Description of the research project
Mitochondria are required to convert food into usable energy forms.To meet demands, every cell contains thousands of them.Unlike most other cellular compartments, mitochondria have their own genomes (mtDNA) that encode for 13 of the about 90 proteins present in the respiratory chain.In our group, we study the molecular mechanisms of DNA replication using various biochemical and molecular biology techniques.The proteins required for human mtDNA maintenance are all nuclear encoded and include a DNA polymerase ?(POL?), a single stranded DNA binding protein (mtSSB), and a hexameric helicase (TWINKLE).Our group was the first to reconstitute mammalian mtDNA replication in vitro, using only highly purified, recombinant proteins (EMBO J 23, 2423-9; Mol Cell 37:67-78) and this system will be an essential tool in the current PhD project.The long-term goal of the project is to understand mtDNA replication in molecular detail.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implied in various types of human pathologies.Inherited mitochondrial diseases are relatively common with an estimated prevalence of at least 1 in 5000.Mitochondrial dysfunction is also associated with age-associated common diseases (e.g.diabetes mellitus type II and neurodegeneration) and the normally occurring ageing process.

Currently, the group consists of 1 BMA, 1 senior scientist, 1 postdoc, and 2 PhD students.We are supported by national and international funding agencies (VR, Cancerfonden, ERC) Our laboratories are located in the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Medicinaregatan 9A.The working language is in the research group is English.We are looking for self-motivated individuals with a strong scientific interest.Applicants may have a background in chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology, or medicine.

Three recent publications from the laboratory includes:

1.Mitochondrial RNA polymerase is needed for activation of the origin of light-strand DNA replication. Mol Cell.
2.Human mitochondrial RNA polymerase primes lagging-strandDNA synthesis in vitro. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2008 Aug 12;105(32):11122-7

3.The human mitochondrial replication fork in health and disease.
Wanrooij S, Falkenberg M.
Biochim Biophys Acta.2010 Aug;1797(8):1378-88.(Review!)