Three post-doc fellowships for studies of DNA replication at Umeå University

The Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics (Umeå University, Sweden) invites applicants for three post-doc fellowships for studies of DNA replication in the research group headed by Prof. Erik Johansson at Umeå University, Sweden. The focus of his research group has been to bring light to how DNA Polymerase epsilon participates in DNA replication, contributes to the high fidelity of DNA replication, and is involved in DNA repair. The lab uses structural biology, biochemistry and yeast genetics to elucidate the role and function of DNA polymerase epsilon.

The fellowships are for two years and are placed at the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics.

Projects:

1. Recently the research group solved a structure of DNA polymerase epsilon harboring an Fe-S cluster in the catalytic domain (Nucleic Acids Res. 2019 47:5712-5722). However, the function of the Fe-S cluster is still elusive. This project is aimed to shed light on the function of the Fe-S cluster in DNA polymerase epsilon and whether it has a role during leading strand synthesis or DNA repair.

2. The reconstituted eukaryotic DNA replication system was recently set up in the research group. In this system we will study the events that occur when the replication fork meets a single-strand break, considered to be the most common lesion in the cell. The studies will involve structural studies, biochemical assays where purified proteins are added, and yeast genetics.

3. With the already mentioned reconstituted DNA replication system the fidelity of DNA replication will be studied in the context of the entire replication fork. Earlier studies have been limited to DNA polymerases filling a single-stranded gap or extending a primer.

Further details:
Three post-doc fellowships for studies of DNA replication at Umeå University