Increasing efficiency is an important driving force behind cellular organization and often achieved through compartmentalization. Long recognized as a core principle of eukaryotic cell organization, its widespread occurrence in prokaryotes has only recently come to light. Despite the early discovery of a few microcompartments such as carboxysomes, the vast majority is less than 100 nm in diameter - too small for conventional light microscopy or electron microscopic thin sections. Unsurprisingly, many nanocompartments have been discovered serendipitously. Their small size, robust self-assembly, high stability, excellent biocompatibility, and large cargo capacity make them excellent candidates for technical applications. Here we plan to characterise a novel discovered cyanobacterial nanocompartment with the goal to understand its role in the physiology of these filamentous photosynthetic bacteria.
Science Graduate School
As a PhD student in one of the science departments at the University of Sheffield, you’ll be part of the Science Graduate School – a community of postgraduate researchers working across biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and psychology. You’ll get access to training opportunities designed to support your career development by helping you gain professional skills that are essential in all areas of science. You’ll be able to learn how to recognise good research and research behaviour, improve your communication abilities and experience technologies that are used in academia, industry and many related careers. Visit
http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/sgs to learn more.
