Projects - We work with specific membrane pumps and transporters in the Listeria cell membrane, and trying to understand the molecular basis for calcium homeostasis in the bacterium down to the protein chemical level. There are two genes encoding the calcium pumps in the Listeria genome sequence. We have expressed one of these pumps, and three of the genes located in the same operon and are actively try to understand how these proteins work together.
From you we expect: Commitment, scientific curiosity, ability to work independently after 2-3 months. We consider laboratory work for a master degree a full time position, minimum 37+ hours a week
Molecular biological techniques you are likely to come into contact with and could be trained in
? Primer design, cloning, subcloning into E. coli.
? Growth Studies with Listeria innocua, a noninvasive strain.
? RNA / DNA purification and qPCR.
? Expression of membrane proteins in E. coli.
? Purification and relipidering of membrane proteins.
? Characterization of membrane proteins such as phosphorylation experiments.
? Crystallization and structure solution of proteins.
Figure 1. Cartoon representation of a Ca 2+ATPase from Listeria. The different domains are color coded, Nucleotide binding domain (red), phosporylation domain (blue), actuator domain (yellow) and the transmembrane region in brown and green. The membrane is represented as lines with the extracelluar space facing up and the cytoplasmic side facing downwards.
We are located in the Science Park on the 5th Floor in completely renovated laboratories. The general language in the laboratory is English.
http://www.med.uio.no/ncmm/english/groups/morth-group/