Procedure no. DSMBBC/Biological membrane as actor in copper biochemistry: chemical mod
Job in
Town of Poland, Jamestown, Chautauqua County, New York, 14701, USA
Listing for:
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences
Full Time, Seasonal/Temporary
position
Listed on 2026-01-01
Job specializations:
-
Research/Development
Research Scientist, Clinical Research
Salary/Wage Range or Industry Benchmark: 60000 - 80000 USD Yearly
USD
60000.00
80000.00
YEAR
Job Description & How to Apply Below
Position: Procedure no. DSMBBC/2025/18: Biological membrane as actor in copper biochemistry: chemical mod[...]
Location: Town of PolandInstitute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences
Organisation/Company Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences Research Field Chemistry Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Country Poland Final date to receive applications 14 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Warsaw) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 40 Offer Starting Date 1 Mar 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No
Offer Description
The goal of this project is to elucidate the influence of phospholipid bilayers and their models on interactions of biological peptides and related molecules with copper ions. This knowledge is required to better understand the processes involving copper signaling in health and disease. Biological compartments, relevant to copper signaling, including synapses, have very high surface to volume aspects, resulting in copper complexes present in the vicinity of the membrane.
Still, their interactions are barely known. We will use exact physicochemical methods, to establish whether the phospholipid membrane may influence the biological chemistry of Cu2+/Cu+ ions. The obtained knowledge will contribute to designing innovative metallodrugs and therapies.
Project Tasks
Peptide synthesis. Peptidic neuromodulators, Aβ species, NKB, NMC, hepcidin and other disulfide neuropeptides will be synthesized according to Fmoc strategy. Trp mutants and shorter model peptideswill be also obtained.The effect of micellar environment on the Cu(II) binding affinity of neuromodulators. Equilibrium constants of Cu(II) complexes with neuromodulators will be determined in micellar systems.Structural characterization of selected complex/micelle systems. This will be accomplished by NMR, including 19F spectra for Cu(II) complexes and isostructural Cu(II) replacements with diamagnetic Ni(II) or Pd(II).Susceptibility of selected complex/micelle systems to competition from small hydrophilic ligands. The expected weakening of Cu(II) binding affinity of neuromodulators may make them susceptible to competition neurotransmitters, including glutamic acid, histidine, carnosine, taurine, dopamine, acetylcholine, noradrenaline, serotonin, and short histidine peptides.Susceptibility of selected complex/micelle systems to reducing agents. Cu(II) complexes must be reduced to Cu(I) for hCtr1 transport. This will be tested using GSH, cysteine and ascorbate. The interference by small competitors and Zn2+ ions will also be studied.The effect of micellar environment on the kinetics of exchange of Cu(II) ions between neuromodulators and other synaptic ligands. This will be studied by stopped-flow. Reactions faster than 2 ms will be approached by freeze quench kinetics coupled with EPR. Competition between Zn(II) and Cu(II)/Cu(I) ions will also be studied.Synthesis of O-dodecylserine (ODS) and creation of Cu(II)-binding micelles. ODS will be synthesized for the first time, to serve as SDS-compatible analog of phosphatidylserine, a Cu(II) binding phospholipid. Its ability to form micelles will be tested, followed by studies of Cu(II) binding, competition with neuromodulators, redox and kinetic studies.Interactions of Cu(II) complexes with negatively charged, neutral and Cu(II)-binding liposomes. Unilamellar liposomes will be prepared using phospholipids with distinct types of polar heads, followed by Trp fluorescence assays to test whether the interactions in liposomes correspond to micellar systems.Cellular test of suitability of neuromodulators for copper delivery to cells. We developed an innovative protocol for “clean” exposure of HEK
293 culture to Cu(II) complexes in a medium free environment, empowering the chemically selective interaction of these complexes with hCtr
1. Promising complexes from previous tasks will be verified here.hold a degree of Master of Science, Master of Engineering, medical doctor or equivalent in the field of: exact sciences, natural sciences, medical sciences or related disciplines, granted by a Polish or…
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