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EPSRC (CASE) PhD Studentship
Novel chemistries for in situ detection of specific cysteine oxidation states
School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET
Applications are invited for a PhD studentship which starts an exciting research collaboration between
Dr E Lattmann/Prof H Griffiths (Aston University) and Enzo Life Sciences (UK) Limited.
Enzo Life Sciences (ELS) develop, produce and market labelling and detection technologies across research
and diagnostic markets. Post translational modifications (PTMs) extend the range of functions of proteins,
detecting them provides insights into how cells function, which makes them valuable in developing new
approaches to drug development. ELS is a leading player in the PTM market (valued at >£1bn per annum).
The overall aim of the project is to develop novel reagents as redox sensors to trap the cysteine moiety of
the peptide/protein at specific oxidation states in situ by conjugation with modified ELS fluorophores. This
will allow cysteine oxidation state to be correlated with function. The three key objectives are:
1: Synthesis of independent reactants that discriminate between four oxidation states of cysteine.
2: Development of redox buffers to freeze specific oxidation states in real time.
3: Conjugation of reactants to caged fluorophores that become active on binding to cysteine or its oxidised
products and delivery to specific cellular environments.
This project will lead to chemical entities and fluorescent probes that enable site-specific and moleculesensitive detection of cysteine oxidation states. These probes will be important in analysing redoxsensitive thiol residues that serve as molecular switches during cell signalling and will support the
systematic understanding of the role of cysteine oxidation in age and disease.
Financial Support
EPSRC regulations require that applicants are UK or EU nationals. UK nationals will have their tuition fees
paid and will receive an enhanced tax free stipend. EU nationals will only have their tuition fees paid.
Overseas students are not eligible for funding. The studentship is available for four years under the
EPSRC funding model, subject to a satisfactory progress review at the end of the first year with an
anticipated 1st October 2010 registration.
Application Requirements

Applicants should have, or be expecting, a good honours degree (either first class or upper second
class) or hold an MSc in a relevant discipline.

If you are an EU Applicant, the English Language requirements are a minimum score of 620 (260
minimum in computer test) in TOEFL OR IELTS with minimum marks of 6.5 in each section and an
overall band of 7.0.

Overseas students are not eligible for funding.

The project is available to students meeting the University and School academic entry requirements
and will be awarded competitively on merit.

Download an application form (http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/research/pgresopportunities/) and
return it to:
Dr E Lattmann, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4
7ET by Monday 30th August 2010.
Further information on the work of the Lattmann group is available at
http://www1.aston.ac.uk/lhs/staff/az-index/. For informal enquiries contact E Lattmann directly
(email [email protected])