- Vacancy Reference Number
- https://www.nld-dtp.org.uk/how-apply
- Closing Date
- 22 Jan 2021
- Salary
- stipend
- Address
- Molecular Physiology and Cell Signaling;
Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology;
University of Liverpool; UK
- Duration
- 4 years
In this PhD project, you will investigate the neurobiological functions of the Trappc9 protein using a knock-out mouse line that we have generated recently. Trappc9 knock-out mice show reduced brain size (secondary microcephaly starting in juveniles), behavioural deficits and increased body weight, similar to human patients with TRAPPC9 mutations. Trappc9 is a specific subunit of the intracellular trafficking protein particle TrappII. It has been shown that cells deficient for this protein form unusually large lipid droplets, but neurons have not yet been investigated. This project will follow up on our initial data from neuronal cell cultures and investigate the cellular and molecular roles of Trappc9 in lipid droplet regulation and vesicle trafficking, and how lack of Trappc9 leads to neuronal dysfunctions. Additionally, the project will investigate how the neuronal abnormalities and the microcephaly phenotype affect the network activity of the cortex and hippocampus in KO mice, which is important for cognitive functions. This aspect of the project will employ electrophysiological approaches.
You will undertake primary neuron cultures from Trappc9 WT/KO mice and apply lipid droplet analysis techniques, immunocytochemistry and live-cell imaging of neurons with fluorescent markers. Analysis of accumulation and exchange of labelled fatty acids in neuron-glia co-cultures will be part of the project. Other vesicle transport processes, e.g. retrograde transport, might also be investigated. Molecular biology (e.g. GFP-expression constructs, cell transfections) and brain histology methods will be applied in this project, too. Furthermore, in collaboration with the second supervisor at Newcastle University, we intend to investigate how microcephaly might affect cortical and hippocampal neuronal network activity. For this part of the project you will spend 6 months at the second supervisor’s laboratory to undertake electrophysiological experiment.
In addition to these experimental skills, the PhD programme will also provide training in quantitative skills, statistical analysis, data presentation and software applications for biosciences (e.g. image analysis, Python, R, Matlab) through courses at the Universities of Liverpool and Newcastle.
Weblinks:
Lab primary supervisor: https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/translational-medicine/staff/antonius-plagge/
Lab second supervisor: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/people/profile/fionalebeau.html
Informal enquiries may be made to plagge@liverpool.ac.uk
Further Information
https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/analysis-of-the-neurobiological-functions-of-trafficking-protein-particle-complex-subunit-9-trappc9-which-is-associated-with-microcephaly-and-cognitive-deficits-in-a-knock-out-mouse-model/?p127798
Contact Details
Dr. Antonius Plagge; plagge@liverpool.ac.uk
