About the Project
This PhD project will attempt to answer the following question: "To what extent can artificial nucleic acids,[1] in which the components of DNA are replaced with metal-containing units, mimic the structure and function of naturally occurring nucleic acids?"
The student will study the spectroscopic and redox properties of various metal-containing DNA systems developed in our laboratory[2],[3] as well as their ability to partake in or mimic biological processes, such as DNA replication. Eventual applications include novel materials with DNA-like functionality with additional conducting or sensing properties.
More details can be found in the following link:
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/pgstudy/phd_opportunities/molecularandmetabolicengineering2019/metalodifieddna
The student will ideally have a first degree in a chemistry or biochemistry-related discipline and have an interest or experience in areas related to one or more of the following topics: synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular or chemical biology, synthetic biology, supramolecular chemistry.
Funding Notes
The project is part of the BBSRC MIBTP programme, involving the Universities of Warwick, Birmingham and Leicester.
More details on this fully funded 4-year PhD programme, can be found here:
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/pgstudy/phd_opportunities/biotechnology/modified_dna
More details on eligibility requirements may be found here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/pgstudy/phd_opportunities/application/#Eligibility
References
1. Pinheiro, VB; Taylor, AI; Cozens, C; Abramov, M; Renders, M; Zhang, S; Chaput, JC; Wengel, J; Peak-Chew, S-Y; McLaughlin, SH; Herdewijn, P; Holliger, P. “Synthetic Genetic Polymers Capable of Heredity and Evolution”, Science, 2012, 336, 341-344; http://science.sciencemag.org/content/336/6079/341
2. Duprey, JLHA; Carr-Smith, J; Horswell, SL; Kowalski, J; Tucker, JHR. “Macrocyclic Metal Complex–DNA Conjugates for Electrochemical Sensing of Single Nucleobase Changes in DNA”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2016, 138, 746-749; https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jacs.5b11319
3. H. V. Nguyen, Z.Y. Zhao, A. Sallustrau, S. L. Horswell, L. Male, A. Mulas and J. H. R. Tucker, “A Ferrocene Nucleic Acid oligomer as an organometallic structural mimic of DNA”, Chem. Commun., 2012, 48, 12165-12167; https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2012/cc/c2cc36428j#!divAbstract
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