We are seeking a PhD student to study protein post translational modifications (PTMs) with native mass spectrometry. Ideal applicants will have experience in cell biology/biochemistry and/or mass spectrometry/analytical chemistry. This PhD project will be based at the University of Strathclyde and is funded by GSK, providing the opportunity for you to spend some time at the GSK site in Stevenage and gain industrial experience. 

S-acylation is a prominent post-translational modification of cellular proteins involving the attachment of fatty acids onto cysteine residues. This process, which is mediated by “zDHHC” enzymes, affects protein localisation, protein interactions and stability, and defects in S-acylation are linked to a range of conditions including cancer, diabetes and neurological disorders.

The S-acylation field has suffered from a lack of appropriate techniques that allow the nature of the fatty acid chain and its position within modified proteins to be identified. These are key features that impact how S-acylation affects protein behaviour and protein trafficking. This project seeks to develop new approaches to study S-acylation at higher resolution, focusing on key growth factor signalling proteins that are important oncogenes and tumour suppressor proteins. Developing an improved understanding of the S-acylation profile of such proteins may open up new therapeutic avenues.

The student will be based in the labs of Dr Rebecca Beveridge, which houses state-of-the-art native mass spectrometry instrumentation, and Professor Luke Chamberlain, which houses advanced cell biology and chemical biology infrastructure. The industrial supervisor is Dr Gareth Davies, who has relevant expertise in protein trafficking and imaging that will allow the effects of S-acylation on proteins to be studied in detail. This interdisciplinary PhD will include training in a wide range of scientific methods including cell biology techniques, protein expression and purification, mass spectrometry analysis, and imaging analysis of cell trafficking and localisation.