PhD Position, Cancer Biology, Germany

August 19, 2008

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PhD position in cytoskeletal mechanisms of cancer cell invasion (Heidelberg, Germany)

Cells move, polarize or change shape using specialized proteins that control actin dynamics. One large family of catalitically potent actin nucleators consists of the highly conserved Diaphanous Formins, many of which are regulated through physical interactions with Rho-GTPases. There are over 15 different Formins in humans, most of them with unknown GTPase regulation and function.

My lab studies novel regulatory interactions with Diaphanous Formins to dissect their specific functions and physiological roles in various cell motility processes such as cancer cell invasion, polarized cell movement and phagocytosis. Interestingly, many Formins govern transcriptional activities through their effects on actin polymerization. One focus of my lab is to understand the synergistic link between Formin-induced cytoskeletal dynamics and transcriptional output important for cell shape and motility. Here we investigate novel Formin-interacting transcriptional regulators, which have substantial effects on cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

To apply please send your CV (not more than 2 pages) and a short outline (max. one page) of possible projects and why you want to join our lab incl. three contacts for references.

References:
Brandt D.T., Marion, S., Griffiths G., Watanabe T., Kaibuchi K. and Grosse R. (2007) Dia1 and IQGAP1 interact in cell migration and phagocytic cup formation. J. Cell Biol. 178:193-200.
Brandt D.T. and Grosse R. (2007) Get to grips: steering local actin dynamics with IQGAPs. EMBO Rep. 8:1019-1023.
Fackler O.T. and Grosse R. (2008) Cell motility through plasma membrane blebbing.
J. Cell Biol. 181:879-884.
Faix J. and Grosse R. (2006) Staying in shape with formins. Dev. Cell 10: 693-706.
Gaggioli C., Hooper S., Hidalgo-Carcedo C., Grosse R., Marshall J.F., Harrington K. and Sahai E (2007). Fibroblast led collective invasion of carcinoma cells with different roles for RhoGTPases in leading and following cells. Nat. Cell Biol. 9:1392-1400.
Goulimari P., Kitzing T., Knieling H., Brandt D.T., Offermanns S. and Grosse R. (2005) Gα12/13 is essential for directed cell migration and localized Rho-Dia1 function.
J. Biol. Chem. 280: 42242-42251.
Goulimari P., Knieling H., Engel U. and Grosse R. (2008) LARG and mDia1 link Gα12/13 to cell polarity and microtubule dynamics. Mol. Biol. Cell, 19:30-40.
Grosse R., Copeland J.W., Newsome T., Way M. and Treisman R. (2003) A role for VASP in Rho-Diaphanous signalling to actin dynamics and SRF activity. EMBO J. 22: 3050-3061.
Kitzing T.M., Sahadevan A, Brandt, D.T., Knieling H., Hannemann S., Fackler O.T., Großhans J. and Grosse R. (2007) Positive feedback between Dia1, LARG and RhoA regulates cell morphology and invasion. Genes Dev. 21:1478-1483.

further information/contact

Dr. Robert Grosse
Emmy Noether Research Group
Institute of Pharmacology
Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 366
69120 Heidelberg, Germany

Tel: +49 6221 54 8619 / 8646
Fax: +49 6221 54 8549
Web:http://www.pharmakologie.uni-hd.de
member of www.cellnetworks.uni-hd.de
and The Invadosome Consortium

Scholarship Tags: Biology, cancer, germany, PhD, Position