Exploring Roles of Winged Helix Proteins in Antibiotic Resistance

This project is offered as part of the Medical Research Foundation National PhD Training Programme in AMR: https://www.findaphd.com/search/PhDDetails.aspx?CAID=3755

Winged helix transcription factors are important elements in antibacterial ressiatance. The winged helix regulator of multiple antibiotic resistance (MarR), present, in Escherichia coli with homologues in many other bacteria modulates bacterial response to diverse antibiotics. The transcription factors of the MarR family regulate diverse genes involved in multiple antibiotic resistance, the synthesis of virulence determinants and many other important biological processes (Nature Chem. Biol. 2014, 10, 21–28). We have recently found that oxygenase enzymes, containing winged helix domains, directly modulate ribosomal proteins and confer resistance to some antibiotics acting on ribosomes, including chloramphenicol (Nature Chem. Biol. 8: 960-2, 2012; Nature, 2014, 510, 422-426). The project will involve cellular, biochemical and biophysical, studies on the mechanism by which the ribosomal oxygenases, and more generally winged helix domains, enable antibiotic resistance. The successful candidate will be also able to undertake additional training opportunities and local student cohort activities available to MRC or EPSRC Doctoral Training Programme students.

Apply here: www.graduate.ox.ac.uk/applyonline

Please select DPhil in Organic Chemistry as your programme of study and write: Exploring roles of winged helix proteins in antibiotic resistance under ‘proposed research and title of research project’ in your application form. Please indicate Prof Chris Schofield as proposed supervisor. Proposed funding source should be: Medical Research Foundation National PhD Training Programme in AMR Research. Departmental studentship reference code: MRC/AMR/CJS/02.