Interactions of small G proteins with membranes

Department name: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge
Supervisor: Dr Helen Mott

Our lab works on small G proteins of the Ras superfamily and their effector proteins. Most structural information on small G proteins has been obtained with protein that has been truncated at the C-terminus. However small G proteins of the Ras and Rho families are lipid modified and are peripheral membrane proteins but there is very little structural or biochemical information on these proteins in their membrane bound state. We are seeking to understand, at the molecular level, the structures and interactions of a number of small G proteins in the context of the membrane. We are using membrane mimics and NMR to probe the interactions between G proteins and the membrane and the effects of the membrane on binding to effector proteins and to GTPase activating proteins. All of the proteins that we work on are deregulated in cancer, and so the membrane interaction surfaces represent a new target interface for drug design. Our lab are also working on a number of peptidomimetics as a means of inhibiting small G proteins and this work may provide new possibilities for peptide design.

Taken together, our structural and biochemical analyses will further our understanding of the role of small G proteins in tumourigenesis or cell migration/metastasis and help in the design of therapeutics to inhibit their function.

Projects can be funded via the BBSRC DTP in Cambridge or the MRC DTP.
For the MRC - see Molecular and Cellular Project:
https://mrcdtp.medschl.cam.ac.uk/prospective-students/how-to-apply/available-projects-for-2018/
For BBSRC:
https://bbsrcdtp.lifesci.cam.ac.uk/
Overseas students can apply for funding via various scholarship schemes:
https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/funding?ucam-ref=global-header