Phase-separated condensation of energy-dissipating self-organizing protein systems in crowded cell-like membrane containers (DC08)

Hosted by:
Germán Rivas
CIB Margarita Salas, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences
https://www.cib.csic.es/research/cellular-and-molecular-biosciences/systems-biochemistry-bacterial-division


Project Specification

Project Summary

Rivas group has extensive experience in understanding the molecular mechanisms responsible for the biochemical organization of the bacterial division machinery (the divisome) to reconstitute, from the bottom up, functional simplified versions of the divisome in controlled cell-like environments. The project aims to decipher how the physicochemical elements of the local intracellular environments (namely macromolecular crowding, surface interactions, and biomolecular condensation mediated by phase separation) affect the molecular interactions and spatiotemporal organization underlying the operation of minimal divisome machines. These studies will contribute 1) to establish how active processes linked to nucleotide hydrolysis control membrane-associated protein phase separation and 2) to decipher the linkages between protein condensation and membrane transformation in crowded cell-like systems.

The project will include secondments at Radboud University (Spruijt), MPICI (Dimova Group), and Tel Aviv University (Sorkin Group), and further optional ones.

Selected References

  • Monterroso B, Margolin W, Boersma AJ, Rivas G, Poolman B, Zorrilla S. 2024. Macromolecular Crowding, Phase Separation, and Homeostasis in the Orchestration of Bacterial Cellular Functions. Chem Rev. 124:1899-1949. & Rivas G, and Minton AP. 2022. Influence of nonspecific interactions on protein associations: Implications for biochemistry in vivo. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 91:321-351
  • Paccione G, Robles-Ramos MÁ, et al., Zorrilla S, Monterroso B, Rivas G. 2022. Lipid surfaces and glutamate anions enhance formation of dynamic biomolecular condensates containing bacterial cell division protein FtsZ and its DNA-bound regulator SlmA. Biochemistry 61:2482-2489
  • Monterroso B, Robles-Ramos MÁ, Zorrilla S, Rivas G. 2021. Reconstituting bacterial cell division assemblies in crowded, phase-separated media. Methods Enzymol. 646:19-49

Standard duties and responsibilities of the DC

For the 36 months of employment contract the doctoral candidate (DC) will be required to work exclusively on the MSCA programme. In all cases, all duties and responsibilities will be clearly outlined in the DC personal Career Development Plan, as determined in the early stages of the project between the DC and their supervisory committee.

Candidate Specification

Qualifications

EssentialDesirable
Applicants should hold or expect to attain, as a minimum a MSc, or equivalent, in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Bioengineering or related area. 

Knowledge and Experience

EssentialDesirable
Research project carried out in at least one of the above disciplines.Acquaintance with biophysical techniques and binding data analysis
A demonstrated knowledge of at least one of the following: protein biochemistry, membrane reconstitution, molecular and/or membrane biophysics, biomolecular condensates, colloidal physical chemistry Experience in fluorescence microscopy (optical, confocal) and spectroscopy

Skills and Competencies

EssentialDesirable
Applicants whose first language is not English must submit evidence of competency in English.
Evidence of interest, aptitude and research experience in the above disciplines.

Application

Application is now closed.

Further information

For any informal queries, please contact Germán Rivas by sending an email to grivas [at] cib.csic.es 

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