[Arabidopsis] Postdoctoral Researcher Position available

[Huw H. Rees]

Postdoctoral Researcher (Molecular Biology/Post-genome Technologies)

Applications are invited for a Postdoctoral Researcher to work on the 
identification, cloning and heterologous expression of the genes 
encoding the enzymes catalysing the four steps of the important 
pathway of plant sterol dealkylation to cholesterol in insects. The 
project will involve a range of post-genomic technologies, including 
bioinformatics and proteomics.

Most species of invertebrate animals cannot synthesise sterols (e.g. 
cholesterol) and rely on a dietary source. Plant pest insects and 
plant parasitic nematodes obtain their sterols (e.g. sitosterol) from 
the plants. Without chemical modification, these plant sterols cannot 
satisfy the sterol requirement for normal growth of the 
invertebrates, which have a specific need for a cholesterol-like 
sterol. Thus, such organisms must dealkylate plant sterols (e.g. 
sitosterol, C29) to yield cholesterol (C27). Most studies of the 
dealkylation pathway have been undertaken in plant-pest insects, as 
well as in the model nematode species, Caernorhabditis elegans. The 
conversion (dealkylation) of sitosterol to cholesterol occurs via a 
four-step pathway, which has been demonstrated in the microsomal 
membranes in insect midgut. The current project aims to clone and 
characterise the genes encoding the four enzymes catalysing the 
dealkylation reactions from the silkworm, Bombyx mori and to model 
the proteins.

You will join a particularly active multi-disciplinary laboratory 
within a modern, well equipped building, that incorporates Core 
Facilities in post-genomic technologies, including Non-Invasive Cell 
Imaging, Functional Proteomics, Transcriptomics, Transgenic Plants 
and Structural Biology (biological NMR).

You should have (or be about to obtain) a Ph.D. in an appropriate 
biological science and experience of molecular biology is essential. 
The post is funded by The Leverhulme Trust for up to two years.

Informal enquiries prior to application may be made to Prof H H Rees 
(reeshh from liv.ac.uk).

For full details of the post, or to request an application pack, visit
www.liv.ac.uk/university/jobs.html or e-mail jobs from liv.ac.uk ; Tel 
0151 794 2210 (24 hr answerphone). Please quote Ref: B/991 in all 
enquiries


-- 
Huw H.Rees
Professor of Biochemistry
School of Biological Sciences
University of Liverpool
The Biosciences Building
Crown Street
Liverpool
L69 7ZB

Tel: (44) 151-795-4465
Tel: (44) 151-795-4401 (Secretary)
Fax: (44) 151-795-4406
E-mail: reeshh from liv.ac.uk

Liverpool, European Capital of Culture, 2008