Linking structure and function of the plant endoplasmic reticulum

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Department of Biological and Medical Sciences

This is a competitive 3 year Full Time PhD project

Research title - Linking structure and function of the plant endoplasmic reticulum

Director of Studies: Professor Chris Hawes

Main supervisor: Dr Verena Kriechbaumer

Eligibility: Home UK/EU applicants only ---- (who must be permanently resident in UK/EU)

Start Date: September 2018

Value p.a.: Bursary of £14777 for Academic Year 2018/19 & fees


Description of project:

Project description:

A great proportion of the planet’s food supply for proteins and carbohydrates is produced and transported through the plant secretory pathway. The secretory pathway is also responsible for the production of plant wall material which is important in the paper and biofuel industries. The plant endoplasmic reticulum (ER) forms the first compartment in the secretory pathway and can also be used to produce industrial molecules such as antibodies and therapeutics. Therefore, biotechnologically the ER has great potential to manipulate or increase protein productivity in plants and is of great importance for crop adaptation to climate change.
The ER forms a highly dynamic polygonal network composed of sheets and tubules. Our group has described novel proteins capable of changing this network, e.g. Lunapark proteins forming sheets and reticulon proteins forming tubules. We have also developed specialised software to quantify these structures and features.

We offer fully funded PhD projects in the following areas:
1) We want to show the link between ER structure and function and a role for the ER acts as a platform for metabolic processes such as hormone biosynthesis. For this we will change ER structure and/or ER movement using our Lunapark and reticulon proteins or various drugs. Protein production, secretion, enzyme activity, and protein movement will then be analysed and linked it to ER structure. Of interest is also the effect of ER structure on enzyme complexes (metabolons) on the ER such as the enzymes producing the major plant growth hormone auxin.
2) We have recently shown that a subgroup of reticulon proteins is also involved in the regulation of lipids in the cell membranes indicating a novel mechanism for lipid regulation/biosynthesis. We want to pursue this project further and in depth by analysing more members of this family and their effect on membrane lipid composition and ER function. There is also the possibility to spend some time in Bordeaux in the lab of Dr Patrick Moreau) for parts of this project.

Methods for these projects include molecular biology, protein biochemistry, confocal and electron microscopy and advanced image analysis. We also work in collaboration with the Harwell Central Laser Facility for specialised imaging such as single particle movement analysis.

This work will be supervised by Dr Verena Kriechbaumer and Prof Chris Hawes and is in collaboration with Dr Patrick Moreau (University of Bordeaux, France).


For further details and informal enquiries please contact main supervisor:
Dr Verena Kriechbaumer, Plant Cell Biology ([Email Address Removed])

Department of Biological and Medical Sciences
Oxford Brookes University
Gipsy Lane, Headington
Oxford OX3 0BP, UK
Sinclair Annex SNA 1.01
phone +44(0)1865-48-8403

Staff profiles:
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/bms/about/staff/?wid=bms%20staff%20directory&op=full&uid=p0075096
https://www.brookes.ac.uk/bms/about/staff/?wid=bms%20staff%20directory&op=full&uid=p0070017

Key words:
Endoplasmic reticulum, plant, enzyme, protein movement, protein interaction confocal microscopy, electron microscopy, image analysis, auxin, IAA


Applicants should be of the highest quality and capable of submitting a PhD thesis within 3 years. Applicants should have a first class or upper second class (minimum 2.1) honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or an acceptable equivalent qualification.

How to apply:

To apply, please click ’Apply’ button, which would download the application form. Please complete the form and email it to [Email Address Removed].

With application enclose a CV and scanned copy of your degree certificates and transcripts. Please also provide up to date details of two referees on the application form. Research Administrator would request references from these referees at a later stage. Additionally if appropriate, an IELTS Academic test certificate from an approved test centre:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491093/2016-01-11_-Approved_Secure_English_Language_Tests_and_Test_Centres_-_Website.pdf

Exceptionally we are prepared to consider alternative acceptable evidence of English Language ability.

With application enclose a CV and scanned copy of your degree certificates and transcripts plus two signed academic references. Additionally if appropriate an IELTS Academic test certificate from an approved test centre.

Applications only accepted by e-mail [Email Address Removed]