About the Project
The chemical synthesis of native or engineered proteins enables us to prepare pure, homogeneously modified samples for therapeutic application or further study. Utilizing a range of peptide ligation techniques, we are currently investigating numerous native and modified proteins integral to a range of biological processes. A fully-funded PhD studentship (UK/EU) is available to work on the development of a self-adjuvanting cancer vaccine.
The project will contain elements of synthetic chemistry (the synthesis of non-proteinogenic amino acids), peptide chemistry, peptide ligation and protein chemistry (modification, folding and characterisation). To enable a thorough evaluation of the protein targets, we have established a collaborative partnership with the Nottingham-based immunotherapy start-up Scancell. If the applicant has an interest in immunology, then the opportunity exists to evaluate the immunogenicity of the target proteins and gain valuable cross-disciplinary training with an exciting biotech. company.
http://www.themitchellgroup.co.uk
http://www.scancell.co.uk
Funding Notes
Applicants must have, or expect to obtain, a 2:1 or above (or the equivalent if non-UK), on a 4-year undergraduate program (MChem/MSci/MRes) in chemistry, chemical biology, biochemistry or immunology. The studentship will commence in October 2017. UK and EU applicants only.
References
Mitchell, N. J., Malins, L. R., Liu, X., Thompson, R. E., Chan, B., Radom, L. and Payne, R. J.; Rapid Additive-Free Selenocystine-Selenoester Peptide Ligation; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015; 137; 14011-14014
Malins, L. R., Mitchell, N. J., McGowan, S. and Payne, R. J.; Oxidative Deselenization of Selenocysteine-Applications for Programmed Ligation at Serine; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2015; 54; 12716-12721
Mitchell, N. J., Kulkarni, S. S., Malins, L. R., Wang, S. and Payne, R. J.; One-Pot Ligation-Oxidative Deselenization at Selenocystine and Selenocysteine; Chem. Eur. J. 2017; 23; 946-952