Nigel Groome Studentship: Dissecting the initial stages of basal body assembly in trypanosomes

Cilia and flagella are whip-like structures that extend from the surface of eukaryotic cells and are important for motility and sensory functions. They are constructed from microtubules which originate at a structure called the basal body/centriole which is highly conserved in eukaryotes.

Many protozoan pathogens, such as trypanosomes which cause a devastating disease in humans, also build a flagellum from a basal body. Importantly, the trypanosome flagellum is essential for its ability to cause disease, so it is vital to understand how the basal body is duplicated in these parasites.

The Vaughan lab has identified a cohort of 15 proteins including delta and epsilon tubulin that are likely involved in the early steps of basal body duplication and the characterisation of these proteins forms the foundation of this project. Ultimately, this project will transform our understanding of basal body and flagellum assembly across eukaryotes.

We have an exciting discovery that delta and epsilon tubulin are part of the initial assembly process, and the student will build on this. They will use a range of molecular parasitology and advanced microscopy techniques to identify the precise timing of candidate protein expression during the early stages of basal body assembly.

Ultra-Expansion microscopy will precisely identify the localisation of these candidates. Inducible RNAi will be used to examine the basal body defects after specific depletion of candidate proteins. The Vaughan lab has a wide range of expertise in imaging and parasitology and training in all techniques will be provided. Please contact Prof Sue Vaughan before applying.

The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hrs of teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hrs per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration.