Thesis supervisor: Tim Crul
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Biological Research Center – Hungarian Academia of Sciences Abbreviation of location of studies: SzBK
Description of the research topic:
Cells exposed to physiological stress have to adapt in order to survive. Previously, we evidenced stress-induced plasma membrane remodeling, underlining its role in stress management and -memory. As essential components of plasma membranes, cholesterol and sphingomyelin form lipid rafts –short-lived fluctuating nanoscale assemblies– which cluster receptor proteins and ion channels involved in external cue perception and signaling cascades. Interestingly, the literature concerning the specific role of cholesterol in stress management seems contradictory. Whereas plasma membrane cholesterol levels positively correlate with enhanced stress resistance in multiple cell lines, cancer cells –known to develop resistance to treatment over time– are characterized by lower plasma membrane cholesterol levels compared to their normal counterparts. Moreover, exosomes released from cancer cells are more enriched in cholesterol compared to those released from their normal counterparts suggesting that cancer cells might deploy active strategies to lower their cholesterol levels.
The current project aims to focus on this seemingly paradox by analyzing the role of plasma membrane cholesterol in stress management in cancer cells. For this, standard molecular biology approaches such as cyclodextrin-induced cholesterol depletion of cells, cell survival measurements upon stress (heat, chemotherapeutics ...), western blotting and PCR will be combined with high throughput methods such as lipidomics and proteomics.
Required language skills: fluent English Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2019-08-31
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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