Name and Surname of the Supervisor: Tomas Šinkūnas
Institution (Company), Department: VU LSC Department of Protein - DNA Interaction (Head Prof. V. Šikšnys)
Preliminary Topic: Bacterial mutagenising DNA polymerase complexes
Short Description of the Internship Work: Genome replication is an essential life process that allows cells to reproduce. When DNA damage occurs in the genome of a cell, replication is inhibited and various DNA repair mechanisms are triggered. Some of the DNA damage is repaired by the presence of inaccurate DNA polymerases, which can introduce mutations into the genome. The action of such polymerases is tightly regulated by the presence of additional proteins. These proteins are thought to interact with the polymerase to form a mutasome complex. Some pathogenic bacteria, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, use this complex to mutagenise their genome, leading to the development of antibiotic resistance. The structural organisation of this complex and its mechanism of action are not yet known. The aim of this internship is to reconstitute the mutasome in a test tube, which would allow the action of these polymerases to be elucidated.
Qualification Requirements (Degree): BSc, MSc
Application Deadline: 2024-12-20
Additional Comments: The internship is offered to a student of 1-3 bachelor's or 1 master's courses. If you are interested, please send a short motivation letter and CV with study results to Tomas Šinkūnas ().