Centre for Molecular Biology (ZMBH) Heidelberg University
and The Paterson Institute for Cancer Research
The groups of E. Schiebel at the Center for Molecular Biology (ZMBH) (http://www.zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de/ schiebel/default.shtml), Heidelberg University, Germany and I. Hagan at the Paterson Institute, University of Manchester, UK (http://www.paterson.man.ac.uk/) have long-lasting interests in the molecular analysis of mitosis (for publications see below 1-12).
We have an open PhD position: “Cell cycle regulation of centrosome duplication”.
Centrosomes are important organelles that organize microtubules, regulate cytokinesis and are associated with cell cycle regulators. Centrosomes become duplicated only once during the cell cycle, however, the molecular mechanisms that coordinate centrosome duplication with the cell cycle are still largely unknown. Here, we use budding and fission yeast as model organisms to study centrosome duplication. A key question of our research is how the yeast centrosome becomes embedded into the nuclear envelope after its duplication and how centrosome duplication is coordinated with the cell cycle machinery. We will compare conserved principals in both model organisms.
We use advanced microscopy (FRAP, FRET, photoactivation), electron microscopy, in vitro reconstitution assays with purified proteins and yeast genetics to unravel essential principals of mitosis. PhD students have access to several high-end facilities at Heidelberg University and The Paterson Institute.
We are looking for a highly motivated PhD student with a strong background in biochemistry, cell biology or molecular biology. Successful candidates will be part of an international, highly motivated team of PhD students and postdocs that works at the forefront of scientific research. The PhD student will be a member of the Hartmut Hoffmann-Berling International Graduate School of Molecular and Cellular Biology (HBIGS; http://www.hbigs.uni-heidelberg.de/) and the GRK1188 (http://bzh.db-engine.de/default.asp?lfn=en4036). The PhD student will spend time in Heidelberg and Manchester to work at both institutions. The PhD position is available from October 2011-Sept. 2014.
Please send applications to HBIGS (online application) or E. Schiebel (schiebel.elmar@zmbh.uni-heidelberg.de).
Selected publications of the Hagan and Schiebel groups:
1 Khmelinskii, A., Keller, P. J., Lorenz, H., Schiebel, E. & Knop, M. Segregation of yeast nuclear pores. Nature 466, (7305):E7301 (2010).
2 Pereira, G. & Schiebel, E. Separase regulates INCENP-Aurora B anaphase spindle function through Cdc14. Science 302, 2120-2124 (2003).
3 Khmelinskii, A., Roostalu, J., Roque, H., Antony, C. & Schiebel, E. Phosphorylation-dependent protein interactions at the spindle midzone mediate cell cycle regulation of spindle elongation. Dev. Cell 17, 244-256 (2009).
4 Mardin, B. R. et al. Components of the Hippo pathway cooperate with Nek2 kinase to regulate centrosome disjunction. Nat. Cell Biol. 12, 1166-1176, doi:ncb2120 [pii]10.1038/ncb2120 (2010).
5 Roostalu, J. et al. Directional switching of the kinesin Cin8 through motor coupling. Science 332, 94-99, doi:science.1199945 [pii]10.1126/science.1199945 (2011).
6 Kupke, T. et al. Targeting of Nbp1 to the inner nuclear membrane is essential for spindle pole body duplication. EMBO J, doi:emboj2011242 [pii]10.1038/emboj.2011.242 (2011).
7 Grallert, A. et al. S. pombe CLASP needs dynein, not EB1 or CLIP170, to induce microtubule instability and slows polymerization rates at cell tips in a dynein-dependent manner. Genes Dev. 20, 2421-2436, doi:20/17/2421 [pii]10.1101/gad.381306 (2006).
8 Grallert, A. & Hagan, I. M. Schizosaccharomyces pombe NIMA-related kinase, Fin1, regulates spindle formation and an affinity of Polo for the SPB. EMBO J 21, 3096-3107 (2002).
9 Grallert, A., Krapp, A., Bagley, S., Simanis, V. & Hagan, I. M. Recruitment of NIMA kinase shows that maturation of the S. pombe spindle-pole body occurs over consecutive cell cycles and reveals a role for NIMA in modulating SIN activity. Genes Dev. 18, 1007-1021 (2004).
10 Petersen, J. & Hagan, I. M. Polo kinase links the stress pathway to cell cycle control and tip growth in fission yeast. Nature 435, 507-512, doi:nature03590 [pii]10.1038/nature03590 (2005).
11 Tamm, T. et al. Brr6 drives the S. pombe spindle pole body nuclear envelope insertion/extrusion cycle. . J. Cell Biol. in press (2011).
12 Tallada, V. A., Tanaka, K., Yanagida, M. & Hagan, I. M. The S. pombe mitotic regulator Cut12 promotes spindle pole body activation and integration into the nuclear envelope. J. Cell Biol. 185, 875-888, doi:jcb.200812108 [pii]10.1083/jcb.200812108 (2009).