PhD Studentship - Understanding the Conformational Dynamics of Proteins Involved in the Protection of Biological Material within Seeds

Research theme: "structural biology", "protein dynamics", "protein folding", "mass spectrometry", "ion mobility", "proteomics"

Number of projects: one

This 3.5 year PhD is fully funded; tuition fees will be paid and you will receive a tax free stipend of set at the UKRI rate (£19,237 in 2024/25). A September 2025 is preferred but there is some flexibility. This project is open to home and overseas applicants.

Seeds are the hardiest and driest stages in the life cycle of most plants, losing water content as they mature. Within mature seeds protein, biological materials are compacted into a “dry” storage form, which can withstand external climate stresses. In parallel with dehydration is the increase in expression of LEA proteins. The majority of LEA proteins are intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), and are integral to the production of the molecular glass state. A subset of LEA proteins, known as dehydrins (DHNs), control response to heat shock, salinity, cold and dehydration, depending on tissue localisation. Within seeds, DHNs are involved in the stabilisation of proteins into amorphous, aggregates called seed storage protein bodies (SSPBs).[4] Disordered LEA proteins are known to undergo structural transitions from a disordered, inactive form to an ordered, active form in response to abiotic stress. How DHNs change in conformation in response to desiccation is integral to elucidating how they perform their biological function and opens the doors to future biotechnology applications.

This project aims to explore the folding dynamics of a late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins under desiccation using ion mobility coupled to mass spectrometry (IM-MS) as a structural biology technique along with molecular dynamics and protein modelling.

The successful candidate will join a new and exciting group run by Dr Charles Eldrid, alongside Prof. Perdita Barran, at the Manchester Institute for Biotechnology (www.mib.ac.uk), part of the University of Manchester. They will work with fellow students and research scientists and gain skills in protein expression and purification, direct infusion mass spectrometry, ion-mobility mass-spectrometry, protein foot-printing techniques, and molecular dynamics simulations, and associated analysis.

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

We strongly recommend that you contact the supervisor, Dr Charles Eldrid - charles.eldrid@manchester.ac.uk, for this project before you apply. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

If you have any queries regarding making an application, please contact our admissions team FSE.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk

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