Positions

<p>The relationship between hypoxia and the core circadian clock</p>

<p>Biochemical identification of metabolic sensors</p>

<p>The interplay between circadian clocks and exercise performance</p>

<p>Computational analyses of rhythmic outputs (e.g. metabolites, gases)</p>

The student will apply a new analytical approach, super-resolution radial fluctuations (SRRF), to study vesicular trafficking in vivo.

We are interested in the universal process of membrane remodeling, when subdomains of the membrane are reshaped into functional structures that allow cells to take up material, sense and communicate with the environment. We are particularly interested in understanding how membrane ultrastructure is established during muscle differentiation and homeostasis.

The research in our group involves the study of cohesin-dockerin interactions, the assembly of the cellulosome components, enzymatic activity and analysis, protein design and structural characterization of cellulosomal modules. The motivated individual that will join us can gain experience in the following methods: cloning, expression and purification methods, biochemical and biophysical protein-binding measurements, crystallization and X-ray crystallography, and enzymatic activity assays.

Advantage: a good sense of humor.

<p>Regulation of gene expression at the transcriptional and translational levels is fundamental to all biological activities and is frequently altered in disease states. Our broad research interests are (i) to elucidate how the transcription and translation processes control the cellular response to enviromental stimuli; (ii) to reveal the connections between the transcription and translation processes and (iii) to develop tools to manipulate these processes for potential treatment of cancer, chronic inflammation and neurodegenrative diseases.</p>

We are exploring signal transduction strategies using bacterial chemotaxis as a model. In chemotaxis of bacteria such as Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhimurium, the direction of rotation of the bacterial flagella is modulated so that the bacteria approach attractants and retreat from repellents. We are trying to understand how chemotactic signals are processed within less than a second, and how the response regulator of this system transmits this signal to the flagella. Of all the known signal transduction systems, this is the system that is best understood.

Observations made in our laboratory suggest that in humans, the egg and sperm communicate prior to fertilization by way of chemotaxis. This process is mediated by a factor secreted from the egg or its surrounding cells and detected by the sperm cells. We are trying to identify and characterize the chemotactic factors and their receptors on the sperm and to understand the molecular and physiological mechanisms of this process.

Study the role of autophagy in the regulation of different signaling pathways

Study the role of TECOR2, a novel autophagic related factor.

Study different aspects of the mechanism involved in the formation and maturation of an autophagosome.

Membrane proteins make up a quarter of the proteome of every living organism and participate in nearly every biological process. We are interested in the fascinating process of how these proteins get produced, fold, and assemble in cells. The questions we address are: How do proteins fold in the membranes of living cells? How do the dynamic features of unfolded proteins assist in this process? How do cellular factors recognize membrane proteins that failed to fold and need to be cleared? The lab combines biochemical, cell biology, genetic and computational tools.

<p>See my lab web page</p>

<p>See my web page</p>

<p>See my web page for more details of our work http://www.weizmann.ac.il/Biological_Chemistry/scientist/futerman/ We are an active lab with at least one opening for a rotation/MSC student</p>

Current projects:

(1) Principles of operation of mammalian error-prone DNA repair.

(2) Analysis of novel genes involved in mammalian DNA damage tolerance.

(3) Effect of nuclear architecture on DNA damage tolerance in mammalian cells.

(4) Mechanisms and regulation of DNA repair in embryonic stem cells.

(5) DNA repair in risk assessment and early detection of cancer.

Malaria laboratory, Weizmann Institute

We are seeking for highly motivated, committed and curious students to join our team as rotation students. The projects center on different fascinating aspects of the cellular biology of the malaria parasite.

Applicants with a strong background at the interfaces of molecular biology and/or biophysics are encouraged to apply. The chosen applicant will peruse wide spread of molecular biology technics, tissue-culture, microscopy, bioinformatics and more.

Candidate should send a cover letter and CV (includes a publication list) to Dr. Neta Regev-Rudzki.

<p>Engineering of drought resistant crops using genome editing techniques</p>

<p>The projects involve application of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, microscopy, microfluidics and state-of-the art sequencing.</p>

We are interested in signaling in excitable cells. Ion channels physiology. G protein coupled receptors signaling and regulation. Ca signaling and homeostasis.

We are interested in signaling in excitable cells.

Ion channels physiology.

G protein coupled receptors signaling and regulation.

Ca signaling and homeostasis.

Transcriptional reprogramming and stress responses in the tumor microenvironment

<p>Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are actively investigating the evolution of the different variants, and how to make drugs that will combat them. We have published multiple papers in high impact journals on the subject</p>

<p>Our research group is interested in investigating all aspects of protein-protein interactions, from their biophysical nature to their role in signaling within the cell. As our cellular model system we are investigating the multiple activities of type I interferons.&nbsp;</p>

(i) Antibacterial and antifungal peptides - Living organisms of all types produce a large repertoire of gene-encoded antimicrobial peptides that serve as part of the innate immunity. Since 1991 we have established the ??carpet?? mechanism as an efficient model describing membrane permeation by many antimicrobial peptides. Most importantly, we disproved accepted dogmas on the role of specific structure, sequence or chirality in biological function. Furthermore, we found parameter controlling target cell specificity.

The mammalian innate immune response is responsible for the early stages of defense against invading pathogens. One of the major receptor families facilitating innate immune activation is the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, type I membrane proteins. All TLRs form homo- and hetero-dimers within membranes and we showed that the single transmembrane domain (TMD) of some of these receptors is involved in their dimerization and signaling regulation.

Within the systems described, we study self- and hetero-assembly of membrane-bound peptides derived from membrane proteins. Interestingly, although it is generally accepted that the chiral nature of most biologically relevant macromolecules restricts specific interactions to ??chiral partners??, we found that the lipid bilayer environment allows the interaction of two transmembrane (TM) domains with opposite chiralities, and between an all L-amino acid TM and its D,L-amino acid analog (diastereomer).

<p>Studying large protein complexes involved in the protein degradation pathway using a novel mass spectrometry approach.</p>

<p>Studying the structure function relationship of protein complexes involved the protein degradation pathway</p>

We focus on 1) the mechanisms underlying the embryonic development of beta cells both in vivo and in vitro and 2) the transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms that permit beta cells to fulfill their role of releasing insulin in response to physiological needs.

<p>We focus on 1) the mechanisms underlying the embryonic development of beta cells both in vivo and in vitro and 2) the transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms that permit beta cells to fulfill their role of releasing insulin in response to physiological needs.</p>

<p>Transgenic and conditional-knockout mouse models are applied to gain better knowledge of the physiological and pathophysiological function of the following signaling proteins that were discovered in our laboratory: (a) Caspase-8, a cysteine protease that we have initially found to serve as the main proximal signaling protein in the initiation of death induction by the receptors (the extrinsic cell-death pathway), yet has more recently found also to serve various non-apoptotic roles.

<p>Caspase-8, a cysteine protease discovered in our laboratory, is the main proximal signaling enzyme in the activation of the extrinsic cell-death pathway by receptors of the TNF/NGF family. In certain cells it also participates in the regulation of cell growth, differentiation and survival. A number of different human tumors, including small cell lung carcinoma, neuroblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and others, are frequently deficient of caspase-8.

<p>The Yaron lab studies the regulation of neuronal wiring</p>

<ul>
<li>The mechanisms of axonal guidance and pruning.</li>
<li>The interplay between genetics and experience.</li>
</ul>