PhD Student - The role of p300 acetyltransferase in the regulation of human DNA polymerase iota

6 Jun 2023
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences

Research Field

Biological sciences

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Poland

Application Deadline

22 Jun 2023 - 23:59 (Europe/Warsaw)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Offer Starting Date

1 Oct 2023

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Genome integrity maintenance is fundamental for all living organisms. Cells are equipped with an array of DNA mechanisms ensuring prompt and faithful duplication of information encrypted in DNA. Still, DNA is prone to lesions induced by endogenous and exogenous sources. Although damaged DNA is rapidly targeted to repair, some of the lesions escape it and pose a threat, which is particularly dangerous to actively dividing cells. Lesions may block DNA replication, hampering thus cell division which may cause cell death. As an alternative, cells can temporarily tolerate the damage in DNA which permits to completion of the DNA duplication. In one of the DNA damage tolerance mechanisms, a special type of DNA polymerases is employed to traverse the damage in a process named translesion synthesis (TLS). However, while permitting cell survival after DNA damage, their activity is often mutagenic and needs to be strictly controlled. A TLS regulation is a multi-level process and depends largely on posttranslational modifications of engaged proteins and interactions between the proteins involved. Polymerase iota is the most mutagenic human DNA polymerase, but its cellular role remains elusive. The necessity of tight governing of polymerase iota is underlined by the fact that both, lack and overproduction of polymerase iota have been correlated with
tumorigenesis. Posttranslational modifications and protein-protein interactions play a fundamental role in the regulation of polymerase iota. Our previous studies showed that polymerase iota interacts with acetyltransferase p300 and is a subject of p300-dependent acetylation. This acetylation is highly specific for polymerase iota, suggesting that it can be a key factor in the discovery of a specific cellular function(s) of this enzyme. The research will focus on the role of p300 in the regulation of polymerase iota and aims to decipher the cellular role of polymerase iota by identifying cellular conditions requiring its acetylation and recognizing how this modification influences different aspects of polymerase iota activity. The proposed research will be conducted in human healthy and cancerous cell lines and extracellular systems. We will utilize a range of biochemical, microscopic, molecular biology, and bioinformatic techniques. We expect that the proposed approach will, on one hand, help to identify new mechanisms of polymerase
iota regulation, and will help to determine the precise cellular role played by this enzyme. Understanding the functioning and control of TLS proteins is not only cognitive. Due to their ability to synthesize the damaged DNA template, these proteins can counteract anti-cancer treatments that are largely based on inducing DNA lesions in intensively dividing cells. Therefore, we believe that in the future, obtained results will provide helpful inputs in designing innovative, personalized anti-cancer therapies.

Requirements

Research Field

Biological sciences

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Requirements for the candidate:

- hold a degree of Master of Science [Magister], Master of Engineering [Magister Inżynier], medical doctor or equivalent in the field of: exact sciences, natural sciences, medical sciences or related disciplines, granted by a Polish or foreign university; a person who does not possess the qualifications described above may take part in the competition, but must obtain the qualifications in question and provide the relevant documents before the start of the programme at the Doctoral School (i.e., October 1, 2023);

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

- Passion for science and strong motivation for research work.

- Hands-on experience in molecular/cellular biology, tissue culture, and microscopy techniques will be an added advantage

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Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Research Field

Biological sciences

Additional Information
Benefits

Scholarship amount (net, PLN):
1st year: 3000; 2nd year: 3000; 3rd year: 3500; 4th year: 3500

Eligibility criteria

Required documents:
a) an application for admission to the Doctoral School, together with consent to the processing of personal data for the recruitment procedure and a statement on familiarising oneself with recruitment rules and conditions; (link to the form)
b) a copy of the diploma from a university or the candidate’s statement on the estimated graduation date;
c) a scientific curriculum vitae including information on the candidate’s participation in scientific projects and other related activities, such as publications, involvement in science club, participation in academic conferences with an oral or poster presentation, national and international internships, prizes and awards, participation in grants, popularization of science, voluntary work;
d) a list of completed university courses with marks;
e) a motivation letter;
f) contact details to at least one academic adviser or academic staff member holding at least a doctor’s degree, who has agreed to give an opinion on the applicant. The opinion should not be attached to the application;
g) in the case of having a disability certificate or a certificate on the degree of disability, or a certificate referred to in Article 5 and Article 62 of the Act of 27 August 1997 on Vocational and Social Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities ‒ a statement of holding such certificate;
h) candidates holding a diploma of completing studies abroad shall additionally attach a certified translation of the diploma, including the supplement, into Polish or English, unless the diploma or an official copy thereof, including the supplement, has been issued in English.

Language of documents:
•    either English or Polish up to the candidate's choice

How to apply:
•    Use the Application form for admission to the Doctoral School (link to the form )
•    Merge all required documents as a single pdf file
•    Send this file as an attachment to [email protected]  or post documents to
Doctoral School (room 41)
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics
Polish Academy of Sciences
Pawinskiego 5a
02-106 Warszawa
Poland

• Include "Procedure no. DSMBBC/2023/02" and your first and last name as the subject of the e-mail

The application must contain all documents described above.

Selection process

The recruitment process consists of two stages:
a) selection of candidates by the Committee based on their previous achievements and academic performance
presented in the documents submitted; for each position no more than 4 applicants who have achieved the
highest scores, but no less than 60% of the maximum points, shall be qualified for the next stage;
b) an interview conducted by the Committee including in particular:
• a presentation delivered by the candidate containing the outcomes of his/her research (a Master’s thesis
or other research work carried out by the candidate); the presentation must not last longer than 10
minutes;
• questions asked by the members of the Committee related to the presented project, the methods used
and interpretation of the results obtained;
• questions asked by the members of the Committee related to the proposed PhD programme described in
the recruitment announcement;
• questions related to the candidate’s motivation for scientific work.

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences

Country

Poland

City

Warsaw

Postal Code

02-106

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

City

Warsaw

Website

https://ibb.edu.pl/ksztalcenie-doktorantow/rekrutacja/

Street

ul. Pawińskiego 5a

Postal Code

02-106

STATUS: EXPIRED