Christen Lab, Microscopy, Asymmetric Protein Localization and Cell-Cycle Signalling in Bacteria

Background

Similar to eukaryotic cells, bacteria employ spatial organization and localize proteins and signalling systems to distinct sub-cellular sites. Using a high-throughput microscopy screening approach, we recently defined protein localisation networks that spatially organize bacterial cells (Christen et al, PNAS, 2010)

Project

In this Master project you will study a newly identified protein localisation factor and investigate how it asymmetrically positions a cell-cycle kinase to only one of the two cell-poles. Using quantitative fluorescence microscopy you will analyse a set of fluorescent reporter strains and probe the protein interaction dynamics in living cells. Image analysis algorithms in Matlab and ImageJ will be used to extract sub cellular localization characteristics and gain a quantitative understanding about how and when the localization factor and the cell-cycle kinase interact in vivo. These investigations will be complemented by MS-based interaction studies, which will be performed in collaboration with Matthias Gstaiger's Group.

Skills: Interest in single cell analysis, quantitative microscopy and flow-cell analysis.

Duration: 3-6 months, position immediately available.

Supervisor: Beat Christen