Post-Doctoral position

[Denis Chretien]

Dear colleagues,

A two years post-doctoral position is available in our laboratory to 
study the interaction between CLIP-170 and microtubules using new 
fluorescent probes, the Quantum-Dots

Microtubules are a major component of the cytoskeleton in eukaryotic 
cells where they are essential for cell morphogenesis, intracellular 
trafficking and cell division. Their dynamic properties are finely 
regulated by a variety of proteins such as MAPs (Microtubule 
Associated Proteins) or "catastrophe" and "rescue" factors. Among 
these proteins, cytoplasmic linker protein CLIP-170 was identified in 
cells at growing microtubule plus ends where it modulates their 
dynamics and their interactions with cellular organelles. Recently, 
we showed that CLIP-170 is a rescue factor that interacts with 
tubulin in solution and induces the formation of curved oligomers 
(Arnal et al., 2004, Curr. Biol., 14:2086). These oligomers are 
assembly intermediates, a behavior that accounts for the targeting of 
CLIP-170 at microtubule ends. We proposed that the straightening of 
the oligomers that occurs during microtubule wall formation may 
induce CLIP-170 release, and thus would restrict it to the growing 
end of microtubules. To test this model, we plan to label CLIP-170 
with fluorescent nanoparticules (Quantum-Dots), which present a high 
photostability and are also visible by electron microscopy. The 
labeled protein (CLIP-170*) will be followed in real time using 
video-light microscopy on microtubules assembled from pure tubulin 
and centrosomes. Its precise localization on the various assembly 
intermediates and on microtubules will be investigated using 
cryo-electron microscopy and image analysis (3D reconstructions).

The successful candidate will have experience in video-light 
microscopy and/or cryo-electron microscopy. Experience in protein 
purification and labeling will be appreciated.

The starting date is September 2005. Details can be found at 
http://www.umr6026.univ-rennes1.fr/sdm/
Apply by sending a CV, names of two referees and application letter 
to Dr. Denis Chrétien : denis.chretien at univ-rennes1.fr

_____________________________________
Denis Chretien
Equipe "Structure et Dynamique des Macromolécules"
UMR 6026 "Interactions Cellulaires et Moleculaires"
Universite de Rennes 1
Campus de Beaulieu, Bt 13
35042 RENNES Cedex
FRANCE
_____________________________________
tel: +33 (0) 2 23 23 67 64
      +33 (0) 6 62 00 84 57
fax: +33 (0) 2 23 23 50 48
email: denis.chretien at univ-rennes1.fr
http://www.umr6026.univ-rennes1.fr/sdm/
_____________________________________

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