Thesis supervisor: Péter Vilmos
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Biological Research Centre Szeged Abbreviation of location of studies: SzBK
Description of the research topic:
Actin is one of the most abundant, multifunctional protein in every eukaryotic cell. One of the most important novel findings in the past decade is the discovery of actin and actin-binding proteins in the nucleus. Nuclear activities including transcription, editing and nuclear export of mRNAs, chromatin remodeling and DNA repair all depend on actin. It also became clear that there is a fine-tuned equilibrium between cytoplasmic and nuclear actin pools and that this balance is ensured by an export-import system dedicated to actin.
In the Laboratory of Drosophila Nuclear Actin Research of the Biological Research Centre we investigate the biological significance of this surprising nuclear localization in the case of actin and an actin-binding protein, Moesin. The candidate will participate in the investigation of exploration of the nuclear function of Moesin. In the first phase of the work he/she will analyze the role of Moesin in the transcription of the heat shock genes (chaperons) which has been observed in our laboratory. Next, the candidate will identify Moesin’s interacting partners required for the regulation of transcription. During the work molecular biological and biochemical methods, cell culturing, fluorescent microscopy techniques and transgenic animals will be used.
Required language skills: English Further requirements: participation on the National Scientific Students' Associations Conference