University of Heidelberg

Open Positions

Open PhD position: miRNAs and membrane trafficking


In the last years, miRNAs are shown to be potent regulators of various cellular processes. Regulatory roles of miRNAs in membrane trafficking, one of the major processes responsible for cell growth and homeostasis, is only emerging. Large-scale analysis of over-expressed human miRNAs in our laboratory revealed that nearly 10% of them might regulate secretory membrane trafficking. These data are further analysed in a framework of two concepts. Firstly, we aim to understand the mechanism how the individual miRNA influences membrane trafficking by targeting numerous trafficking regulators, particularly if they do not belong to the same regulatory network or the same pathway. On the other hand, we aim to understand how multi-site binding of miRNAs to the individual target regulates its expression, localization and function, and what are the cellular consequences of such complex interactions.

We seek for motivated and team-oriented student to work in a highly interactive, international and interdisciplinary environment.

Commencing date: autumn, 2013.

 

 

Open Master Thesis position: regulation of integrin endocytosis

 

We are looking for a master student to work on in the project concerned with integrin α2β1 endocytic trafficking. Integrin α2β1 is one of the major collagen-binding integrins. It plays important roles in numerous widely spread diseases associated with integrin-mediated cell adhesion: cancer, thrombosis, arteriosclerosis, stroke, wound healing, arthritis and others. Cell surface expression of integrins requires biosynthetic transport of the newly synthesized protein, internalization and re-cycling to the PM or degradation. Little is known about endocytic trafficking of α2β1 making it a highly interesting research object. In order to address that we tested the impact of 386 genes (including actin and microtubules-based molecular motors, small GTPases of Ras and Rho families, their GAPs and GEFs) on α2β1 endocytosis in quantitative fluorescence microscopy-based RNAi assays and identified 122 of them to potentially regulate integrin α2 endocytic trafficking. The project is focus to further characterize these novel regulators by cell molecular biology approaches and cutting-edge technologies.

 

Commencing date: as soon as possible.

 

 


Please, send your application to:

Dr. Vytaute Starkuviene
vytaute.starkuviene(at)bioquant.uni-heidelberg.de
Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
BIOQUANT/ VIROQUANT
BQ0027
Im Neuenheimer Feld 267
69120 Heidelberg

Contact: E-Mail (Last update: 19/07/2013)