Hosting Information
- Offer Deadline
- EU Research Framework Programme
- H2020 / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Country
- Spain
- City
- Barcelona
Organisation/Institute
- Organisation / Company
- IQAC
- Department
- Chemical Biology
- Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
- No
Contact Information
- Organisation / Company Type
- Public Research Institution
- Website
- gemma.triola@iqac.csic.esjuanbautista.blanco@iqac.csic.es
- State/Province
- Barcelona
- Postal Code
- 08034
- Street
- Jordi Girona 18-26
Description
THE RESEARCH CENTER
The Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC) belongs to the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the largest public research institution in Spain and the third among Europe’s largest research organisations.
The IQAC is located in Barcelona and it was created with the mission to perform multidisciplinary research of excellence in both basic and applied chemical sciences with the main purpose of improving the quality of life.
The research carried out at IQAC is based on the application of chemical approaches to address and solve societal challenges, mainly those related to human health, the sustainability of chemical processes and products, and the needs for novel materials for different applications. In this regard, the research programs carried out in our institute are aimed at:
- the development of methods and strategies for the synthesis of molecules of high added value (Methods & Strategies)
- the discovery of chemical and molecular entities of therapeutic, biological and biomedical interest (Tools & Hits)
- the study of molecules with surfactant properties, including synthesis, biophysical studies and applications (Surfactants)
- the generation and use of nanobiotechnology knowledge for the prevention, diagnostic and treatment of diseases (Nanomedicine).
Administratively, the research groups at IQAC are organized in two departments: Biological Chemistry, and Surfactants and Nanobiotechnology. Moreover, research is complemented with a range of diverse scientific and technical platforms (including cell culture and animal facility), which offer their capabilities to both internal and external users.
THE RESEARCH GROUP
Chemical Biology
Supervisors: Gemma Triola, Juan Bautista Blanco
Contact: gemma.triola@iqac.csic.es, juanbautista.blanco@iqac.csic.es
Web page:
Keywords: Sonic Hedgehog, D-protein synthesis, phage display, heterogeneous S-acylation, Ras, lipidomics
Research group
In the last two decades there has been remarkable achievements in the field of Biology specially due to the application of chemical approaches. Relevant examples include the synthesis of molecules able to tune enzymatic activity or disrupt protein-protein interactions, design of new fluorescent probes, novel proteomic methods that allow the identification of new cellular targets and the development of techniques for the synthesis and modification of proteins.
Our main goal is the use of chemical tools to study and characterize diseases, and improve our knowledge of important biological phenomena, principally signaling pathways such as Sonic Hedgehog and lipid-protein interactions. As a result, our scientific interests span organic chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics and medicinal chemistry.
Projects
Chemical biology study of the Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway. The Hh cascade regulates embryo development, organogenesis and tissue patterning. Missregulation during embryogenesis leads to neonatal malformations. In adult organisms, upregulation of the Hh pathway is involved in the initiation and proliferation of several types of tumors including medulloblastoma, basal cell carcinoma and lung cancer. Our goal is to develop a mirror image phage display programme to identify D-peptide antagonists of the main components of the Hh signalling: the Sonic Hedgehog morphogen protein that activates the cascade, and the GPCR type protein Smoothened that transduces the signal intracellularly. We will study the potential of these D-peptides as inhibitors in cancer therapy.
Heterogeneous lipidation or proteins: The S-acylation of cysteinyl residues with fatty acids is one of the most common posttranslational modifications. Importantly, due to its reversibility the acyl group half-life is shorter than the protein half-life, resulting in a acylation/deacylation cycle that dynamically controls the localization and function of proteins. Although the pool of free fatty acids comprise more than 40 distinct molecular species, S-acylation has been thought to be restricted to palmitic acid. However, there is now accumulating evidence that heterogeneous acylation (shorter, longer, unsaturated fatty acids) may have an additional role in the regulation of protein localization and function. Our goal is to uncover methods which allow the appropriate identification and quantification of S-linked fatty acids, to apply these methods to profile relevant proteins such as the oncogens Ras, to explore the implications of this lipid diversity on health and disease and to characterize the enzymes responsible of these modifications.
What we are looking for is a candidate/s that should have expertise in some of these fields:
- Organic synthesis, mass spectrometry analysis.
- Solid phase peptide synthesis, RP-HPLC purification.
- Peptide ligations in solution.
Or:
- Cell and molecular biology. Desirable: protein cloning and expression in bacteria
- Training in phage display.
Fellows will be also involved in the supervision of students, attending seminars and conferences and will be encourage to apply for research grants to move forward to his/her independent career.
APPLICATIONS
The MSCA PF supports experienced researchers from any country in the world who:
- have a doctoral degree
- have a maximum of 8 years of full-time equivalent research experience*
- comply with the mobility rule: the applicant must not have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary for more than 12 months in the last three years immediately before the call deadline
- Only one proposal per individual researcher may be submitted to the MSCA PF 2021 call
*Information still subject to change. The final MSCA Work Programme is not published yet (MSCA PF 2021 call is expected to open in April 2021 and close in September 2021)
The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships provide living allowance (one to two years’ salary), mobility (and family) allowance, as well as research, training and networking costs and overheads for the host institution. The applicants submit proposals for funding jointly with the host organisation. Proposals are evaluated based on their research quality, the researcher's future career prospects, and the support offered by the host organisation. All domains of research and technological development are eligible for funding.
If you are interested in submitting an Expression of Interest, please send your CV, a motivation letter explaining your research background and interest and a summary of your project idea by 15th May 2021 to the group supervisor indicating Expression of Interest MSCA PF 2021 in the subject.
The selected candidates will be invited to prepare a MSCA PF application and will receive help and support from our International and European Programme Unit during proposal preparation.