This project is no longer listed in the FindAPhD database
and may not be available.
Cells have to take up signals from their outside milieu in order to function properly. They have to internalize these signals, interpret them and sort them accordingly. Similarly proteins synthesized in the ER have to be transported to their right destination within the cell. What kind of carriers are being used to convey these signals and proteins? Where and how do carriers and proteins meet or segregate? These are some of the questions we are trying to solve.
The main assay we use for those studies combines light microscopy with electron microscopy. In these so-called Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM) experiments we make use of the advantages of doing live cell imaging at the light microscopy level (i.e. time resolution) and then using the high spatial resolution of the electron microscope (see the website).
In the lab we focus on 3 research strategies:
1. Answering Biological questions related to intracellular sorting events.
- Sorting mechanisms in the endocytic pathway and biosynthetic transport from the Golgi to the plasma membrane.
2. Technology Development to aid question 1.
- Integrate TIRF microscopy (high resolution light microscopy at the plasma membrane) into a CLEM experiment.
- The use of Cryo Electron Microscopy in CLEM experiments.
3. Data analysis.
- Software development for the analysis of Biological Images, including recognition, retracing, measuring, 3-dimensional reconstruction
For more information see: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/biochemistry/research/pv.html
Besides being driven by the scientific question, these projects all need someone who is interested in technology driven research and wants to develop new ideas and try to transform these ideas into new techniques.
References:
Van Weering, J., E. Brown, J. Mantell, T. Sharp, and P. Verkade (2010). Studying membrane traffic in high resolution. Methods in Cell Biology, Volume 96: Electron Microscopy of Model Systems: 619-648
Brown, E. and P. Verkade (2010). The use of markers for Correlative Light Electron Microscopy. Protoplasma, 244: 91-97
Brown, E., J. Mantell, D.A. Carter, G. Tilly, and P. Verkade (2009). Studying intracellular transport using High-Pressure Freezing and Correlative Light Electron Microscopy. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 20: 910-919
Van Weering, J., P. Verkade, and P.J. Cullen (2009). SNX-BAR proteins in phosphoinositide-mediated tubular-based endosomal soring. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology. 21: 371-380
Bhabra, G., A. Sood, B. Fisher, L. Cartright, M. Saunders, W.H. Evans, A Suprenant, G. Lopez-Castejon, S. Mann, S.A. Davis, L.A. Hails, E. Ingham, P. Verkade, J. Lane, K. Heesom, R. Newson, and C.P. Case. (2009). Nanoparticles can cause DNA damage across a cellular barrier. Nature Nanotechnology. 4: 876-883
P. Verkade (2008) Moving EM: The Rapid Transfer System as a New Tool for Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy and High Throughput for High-Pressure Freezing. Journal of Microscopy. 230: 317-328