PhD Scholarship Role of the ribosomal DNA repeats in chromosome segregation

PhD Scholarship: Role of the ribosomal DNA repeats in chromosome segregation

Organisms must ensure their chromosomes separate faithfully during division. Failure to do so can result in chromosome nondisjunction and cause disorders, notably Down syndrome in humans. While understanding the systems that bring about faithful chromosome segregation is an area of intense investigation, relatively little is known about whether genomic factors impede segregation. The goal of your project will be to test a novel hypothesis: that the ribosomal DNA repeats (rDNA) are an impediment to accurate chromosome segregation.

The rDNA is a distinctive feature of eukaryote genomes. It forms large tracts of tandemly repeated cistrons (from fifty to many thousands of copies) that occupy the nucleolus and encode the major RNA components of the ribosome. The rDNA is the most heavily-transcribed region of the genome but also has numerous “extra-coding” functions. Several observations suggest that some of these extra-coding functions may make the rDNA refractory to proper chromosome segregation.

In order to test this novel hypothesis, you will use the model genetic organism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, to investigate the genetic pathways that might result in the rDNA impeding proper chromosome segregation. In particular, you will develop assays to follow meiotic chromosome segregation.  You will use mutants in pathways involved in rDNA recombination, rDNA replication timing, cohesin/condensin, and meiotic recombination in conjunction with these assays to determine which pathway(s) are involved in rDNA-mediated chromosome missegregation.

Applicants should have a background in genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, or related subjects. But most of all, you should have a deep desire to explore the inner workings of the cell.

The research will be carried out in the lab of Dr. Austen Ganley in the Institute of Natural Sciences at Massey University on the Albany Campus, in Auckland. You will join a lab that is dedicated to exploring how the rDNA repeats influence the biology of the cell. We work in a laboratory space that is shared between three research groups, and thus is a dynamic and vibrant working environment. The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for yeast genetic research.

The research will be funded by the Marsden fund, the pre-eminent basic research fund in New Zealand. The scholarship offers a stipend of NZ$25,000/annum, plus tuition fees.

Requests for further information about this research project should be directed to:
Dr. Austen Ganley

For more information about the Doctoral Program at Massey University, please visit the following website:
http://www.massey.ac.nz/massey/research/phd-administration/

Please e-mail your application to Dr. Ganley. Your application should include a full CV (including grades), a cover letter outlining your interests in relation to this research, English language proficiency results (if applicable) and the names and contact details of two academic referees. The process of reviewing applications will begin in late December 2010.

Source: http://www.massey.ac.nz/~aganley/rDNA_PhD.html