Background
Plant viruses are major crop pathogens which cause $60 billion annual damage to the global agri-economy and threaten sustainable food production. All plant viruses must overcome the barrier of the plant cell wall when spreading through their host organism. To this end, they encode so-called movement proteins, which mediate the transport of viral RNA or DNA genomes through plasmodesmata, membranous intercellular channels with only a few nanometers of free internal diameter. The mechanism by which viral movement proteins are able to transport megadalton-size macromolecules through such narrow passages is unknown, and to date, no structural information is available for any of these proteins.
Project details
Our recent research has established approaches to characterise movement proteins in vitro and established a model for the transport mechanism. The project will extend on these findings to
1) Undertake a detailed characterisation of RNA-binding under different conditions and comparing wild-type and point-mutated protein variants
2) Produce samples suitable for structural analysis by cryo-electron microscopy.
Training opportunities and student experience
The student will work within two friendly and enthusiastic research teams and receive extensive experience in molecular biology, protein production and purification, biochemistry, biophysical methods, electron microscopy (negative stain & cryo-EM) and advanced fluorescence imaging.
The University of St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland and consistently rated as amongst the UK's top ten universities, currently ranking top in the UK according to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022 and 1st for student satisfaction in the 2022 Complete University Guide. The Biomedical Sciences Research Complex at St Andrews is an interdisciplinary research centre where biological, chemical, physical and medical laboratories collaborate under one roof, focusing on host-pathogen interactions. Part of the host lab is located at the James Hutton Institute, Dundee, a world-leading plant research center with particular focus on molecular plant-pathogen interactions which offers comprehensive plant growth facilities (including class 2 containment glass houses) and an extensive imaging suite. The student will be embedded in a highly stimulating and interactive research environment with free access to extensive career and transferable skills programmes.
Interested candidates are strongly encouraged to contact Dr Tilsner for informal enquiries: [Email Address Removed]
How To Apply
Application instructions can be found on the EASTBIO website- http://www.eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk/how-apply-0
1) Download and complete the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion survey.
2) Download and complete the EASTBIO Application Form.
3) Submit an application to St Andrews University through the Online Application Portal
Your online application must include the following documents:
- Completed EASTBIO application form
- 2 References (to be completed on the EASTBIO Reference Form, also found on the EASTBIO website)
- Academic Qualifications
- English Language Qualification (if applicable)
Unfortunately due to workload constraints, we cannot consider incomplete applications. Please make sure your application is complete by the 16th December 2021.
Contact
Queries on the project can be directed to the project supervisor.
Queries on the application process can be directed to Jess Fitzgerald at [Email Address Removed]
Please refer to UKRI website and Annex B of the UKRI Training Grant Terms and Conditions
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