[Arabidopsis] postdoctoral research associate position

[Nilgun Tumer]

Postdoctoral Research Associate position
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ

A postdoctoral research associate position is available at the 
Biotech Center at Rutgers University to study programmed cell death 
induced by ribosome inactivating proteins, ricin and Shiga-like toxin 
from E. coli O157:H7.  Both toxins depurinate the highly conserved 
sarcin/ricin loop of the large rRNA, inhibiting translation.  We set 
up yeast as a simple and genetically tractable system to isolate 
mutants defective in cytotoxicity of ricin A chain (RTA) and isolated 
a panel of nontoxic mutants based on their inability to kill yeast 
cells.  Ribosomes were depurinated in yeast cells expressing the 
precursor form of RTA (preRTA) and these cells displayed apoptotic 
markers such as nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation and 
accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Analysis of the nontoxic 
ricin mutants provided the first evidence that the ability to 
depurinate ribosomes and inhibit translation does not always 
correlate with ricin-mediated cell death, indicating that ribosome 
depurination and translation inhibition do not account entirely for 
the cytotoxicity of ricin.  A postdoctoral research associate is 
sought for an NIH funded position to characterize the interaction of 
ricin A chain with ribosomes using the Biacore 4000 and the mechanism 
of its cellular toxicity in yeast and in mammalian cells. 
Qualifications include a Ph.D. in a related field, experience with 
RNA biochemistry and molecular biology and demonstration of an active 
publication record.  Please send CV and the names and addresses of 
three references to Dr. Nilgun Tumer, Biotech Center, Foran Hall, 
Cook College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8520. 
email:  <mailto:tumer from aesop.rutgers.edu>tumer from aesop.rutgers.edu,
http://www.cook.rutgers.edu/~biotech, 
<http://lifesci.rutgers.edu/~molbiosci/Professors/tumer.html>http://lifesci.rutgers.edu/~molbiosci/Professors/tumer.<http://lifesci.rutgers.edu/~molbiosci/Professors/tumer.html>html

Dr. Nilgun E. Tumer                                     Tel:  732-932-8165X215
Professor                                               Fax: 732-932-6535

Biotechnology Center
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Cook College
Foran Hall
59 Dudley Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8520
http://www.cook.rutgers.edu/~biotech