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  Thylakoid membrane generation in cyanobacteria


   School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences

  Prof Conrad Mullineaux, Dr Vidya Darbari  Wednesday, January 29, 2025  Awaiting Funding Decision/Possible External Funding

About the Project

Project Overview

Cyanobacteria have a membrane organization that is unusually complex for prokaryotes. In addition to the inner and outer membranes typical for Gram-negative bacteria, they have a complex and extensive internal membrane system, the thylakoid membranes that are the site of the photosynthetic light reactions and are crucial for the biosphere. The developmental origins of the thylakoid system, and especially the pathways of lipid trafficking, remain obscure. The project will use the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus sp PCC 7942, where we have established growth conditions that cause the drastic reduction and subsequent regeneration of the thylakoid membranes (ref 1), plus the use of fluorescent protein tagging and fluorescent in situ hybridisation to probe the sub-cellular locations of proteins and mRNA molecules (refs 2,3).

Our joint CSC-funded PhD student Xiaowei Dong recently identified a Synechococcus protein that appears to play a crucial role in thylakoid membrane disassembly, most likely by removing lipids from the bilayer for subsequent breakdown and recycling (paper in preparation). In this project you will complement this work by taking a cell biological approach to the problem of thylakoid membrane assembly. As a starting point, you will use fluorescent protein tagging and high-resolution fluorescence microscopy to probe the sub-cellular locations of lipid assembly and transport factors in the crucial early stages of thylakoid membrane regeneration.

Research Environment

The Mullineaux group work on photosynthesis and cell biology in cyanobacteria, using a combination of molecular genetics, biochemistry, spectroscopy and advanced fluorescence microscopy, including confocal and super-resolution (SIM2) microscopy. The Darbari group provide complementary expertise in structural biology, protein structure and function and bioinformatics. Training in all these techniques will be available to the PhD student. The groups have been working together to probe the mechanisms of lipid trafficking in cyanobacteria.

Find out more about the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences on our website.

Keywords: Cyanobacteria; Fluorescence Microscopy; Membrane lipids; Photosynthesis; Thylakoid membrane 

Entry Requirements

We are looking for candidates to have or expecting to receive a first or upper-second class honours degree and a Master’s degree in an area relevant to the project such as biochemistry, microbiology or cell biology.

Knowledge of microbiological techniques, molecular genetics, fluorescence microscopy or protein structure and function would be highly advantageous but are not required.

You must meet the IELTS requirements for your course and upload evidence before CSC’s application deadline, ideally by 1st March 2025. You are therefore strongly advised to sit an approved English Language test as soon as possible, where your IELTS test must still be valid when you enrol for the programme.

Please find further details on our English Language requirements page.

How to Apply

Formal applications must be submitted through our online form by 29th January 2025for consideration. Please identify yourself as a ‘CSC Scholar’ in the funding section of the application.

Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

  • Your CV
  • Personal Statement
  • Evidence of English Language e.g.) IELTS Certificate
  • Copies of academic transcripts and degree certificates
  • References

Find out more about our application process on our SBBS website.

Informal enquiries about the project can be sent to Prof Conrad Mullineaux AT  Admissions-related queries can be sent to 

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for a formal interview by the supervisor. If you are successful in your QMUL application, then you will be issued an QMUL Offer Letter, conditional on securing a CSC scholarship along with academic conditions still required to meet our entry requirements.

Once applicants have obtained their QMUL Offer Letter, they should then apply to CSC for the scholarship with the support of the supervisor.

For further information, please go to the QMUL China Scholarship Council webpage.

Apply Online

Funding & Eligibility

Queen Mary University of London has partnered with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) to offer a joint scholarship programme to enable Chinese students to study for a PhD programme at Queen Mary.  Under the scheme, Queen Mary will provide scholarships to cover all tuition fees, whilst the CSC will provide living expenses and one return flight ticket to successful applicants.

Applicants must:

·      Be applying for CSC funding. 

·      Be a citizen and permanent resident of the People’s Republic of China and hold a Chinese passport.

·      Satisfy all eligibility criteria set out by the CSC and must refer to the CSC website for full details.

·      Apply to QMUL by 29th January 2025. Late applications will not be considered. 

·      Submit ALL required documentation, including evidence of their English Language ability ahead of the CSC application deadline. 

CSC application rules differ slightly for domestic applicants (students applying from China) and overseas applicants (students applying from overseas). Therefore, ALL applicants are advised to see the CSC website for full details on eligibility and conditions on the scholarship. 

Biological Sciences (4)

References

Huokko T, Ni T, Dykes GF, Simpson DM, Brownridge P, Conradi FD, Beynon RJ, NixonPJ, Mullineaux CW, Zhang P, Liu L-N (2021) Probing the biogenesis pathway and dynamics of thylakoid membranes. Nat Commun 12:3475
Mahbub M, Hemm L, Yang Y, Kaur R, Carmen H, Engl C, Huokko T, Riediger M, Watanabe S, Liu L-N, Wilde A, Hess WR, Mullineaux CW (2020) mRNA localisation, reaction centre biogenesis and thylakoid membrane targeting in cyanobacteria. Nature Plants 6: 1179-1191.
Mahbub M, Mullineaux CW (2023) Locations of membrane protein production in a cyanobacterium. J Bacteriol. 205: e00209-23.
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