Structure and function of neurohypophysial hormone receptors

The neurohypophysial peptide hormones vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) regulate amongst other things diuresis and lactation respectively. The manifold physiological effects produced by these hormones are mediated by specific receptors expressed by target tissues. This project will investigate how the structure of these receptors for these two homologous hormones relates to their function. We have clones of the AVP receptor (VPR) and the OT receptor (OTR). This will allow us to use molecular biology to probe by mutation, residues/domains of receptors implicated in binding hormones or transducing intracellular signals. The effect of these changes will be characterised after the expression of these mutant receptors in cultured cell lines. Using constructs of the receptors which incorporate the epitope recognised by a commercial antibody, it will be possible to analyse changes to the receptor during its activation such as phosphorylation/acylation.

This project will expose the student to a wide range of techniques and combines molecular biology, peptide chemistry, radioligand binding studies, confocal microscopy and cell culture. The project is intellectually challenging as the mediation of hormone action by receptors involves complex molecular phenomena. However, the student would be joining an active laboratory which is well-equipped for this study and which is housed in an excellent research department.
___

To find out more about studying for a PhD at the University of Birmingham, including full details of the research undertaken in each school, the funding opportunities for each subject, and guidance on making your application, you can now order your copy of the new Doctoral Research Prospectus, at: www.birmingham.ac.uk/students/drp.aspx
___

Please find additional funding text below. For further funding details, please see the ‘Funding’ section.
The School of Biosciences offers a number of UK Research Council (e.g. BBSRC, NERC) PhD studentships each year. Fully funded research council studentships are normally only available to UK nationals (or EU nationals resident in the UK) but part-funded studentships may be available to EU applicants resident outside of the UK. The deadline for applications for research council studentships is 31 January each year.

Each year we also have a number of fully funded Darwin Trust Scholarships. These are provided by the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh and are for non-UK students wishing to undertake a PhD in the general area of Molecular Microbiology. The deadline for this scheme is also 31 January each year.