ESR 2: Tiago Baeta
Characterization the LptF/C/A subcomplex and its binding to LPS at atomic scale.
Tiago will be determine the functional surfaces important for the establishment of multiprotein complexes (LptF/C/A) at an atomic scale by NMR spectroscopy and biophysical methods using wild-type and mutant proteins (monomeric or impaired in binding one of the partner). He will be tasked with (1) analysing LPS binding to the three partners (LptF/C/A); (2) Identifying the LPS chemical groups important for the binding and of the aminoacids essential in the transfer mechanism using site-directed mutagenesis; (3) Molecular modelling of the functional LptF/C/A-LPS complex based on NMR and mutagenesis data. |
Host:
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Biologie Structurale, France Supervisory Team: Dr. Jean-Pierre Simorre (CNRS) Dr. Cédric Laguri (CNRS) Prof. Alessandra Polissi (UNIMI) Scientific Background: Tiago holds a Bachelor in Biology (Genetics and Molecular Biology) and a Master in Genetics and Molecular Biology, both from the Faculty of Sciences (University of Lisbon, 2010-2013 and 2013-2015). His thesis aimed to unveil possible involvement of Rv2488c gene in biofilm formation of clinically relevant pathogenic mycobacteria, developed in the National Institute of Agricultural Research and Veterinary, IP (Portugal) under the supervision of Professor Mónica Cunha (PhD). After, he continued doing research for 1 year in the Landscape Epidemiology and Wildlife Diseases team (Conservation Ecology group, cE3c), focusing on comparative/functional genomic analysis of pathogenic mycobacteria to assess role of selected gene determinants in regulatory networks, signaling cascades, and niche adaptation. In 2017, he joined Simorre's team as a PhD student, focused on determining functional surfaces relevant for establishment of LptF/C/A multiprotein complex and interaction with LPS. |