Coarse-grained modelling of DNA-protein complexes
Supervisors:
Olwyn Byron, School of Infection and Immunity, University of Glasgow
Oliver Henrich, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde
Helen Walden, School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Glasgow
Summary:
Our detailed understanding of the interactions between DNA and proteins, which are central to the function of most organisms, is based on high-resolution structures. The length of DNA included in these structures is limited by its inherent flexibility which makes it difficult to study. This project aims to develop an integrated coarse-grained protein-DNA model (iCGPD) based on existing separate models for DNA and protein and to train this model on biophysical data that will be acquired for the FANCI-FANCD2 protein complex and the DNA in which it repairs inter-strand crosslinks via the Fanconi anaemia pathway.
Full training in protein overexpression, purification and analysis, PCR, small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering, data analysis, interpretation and management, research ethics, report, paper and grant application writing, oral presentation writing and delivery will be given by the project supervisors and their teams. This inter- and multi-disciplinary project, spanning biophysics, molecular biology, biological chemistry, bionanotechnology and software engineering, will equip the project graduate with a portfolio of specific and soft skills sought by employers and funding bodies and will qualify the graduate not only for progression to traditional post-doctoral job opportunities, but also careers in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors, publishing, intellectual property, data science, education and health