MSc by Research: Investigating the Natural Variation of Ubiquitin-Like-Proteins Across the Eukaryotic Tree of Life
Not stated
- Funding
- Self-Funded PhD Students Only
- Application deadline
- Year-round applications
About the project
About the Project Ubiquitin and Ubiquitin-Like-Proteins are highly conserved across the eukaryotic tree of life. They regulate a wide range of cellular processes via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, whereby ubiquitin is covalently bonded to a target protein. This tags it for degradation by the proteasome. The dysregulation of this pathway is implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases and is even exploited by some pathogens. These qualities make ubiquitin (and other proteins involved in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway) convincing targets for further therapeutic investigation. By utilising bioinformatic techniques, we can analyse the natural variation of ubiquitin and its evolution across the eukaryotic tree of life to aid in drug discovery. The student will work with a dataset from one of the ~1.7 billion clusters generated by DIAMOND DeepClust, a project which sought to cluster the ‘protein universe’ of ~19 billion known protein sequences (1). They will utilise R for effective data handling and will construct multiple sequence alignments to uncover novel motifs and significant mutations. Tertiary structures will be investigated through in-silico predictions using the predictive model, AlphaFold3. This project will equip the student with detailed understanding of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and allow them to gain experience in R, sequence analysis and structural bioinformatics. There will also be opportunities to improve their skills in presenting through participation in lab meetings and scientific writing. Our research community thrives on the diversity of students and staff which helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for postgraduate research. We welcome applications from all talented individuals and are committed to widening access to those who have the ability and potential to benefit from higher education. Please see our website for further details on the programme and how to apply: Life Sciences MSc by Research MSc by Research (Postgraduate) : Study : University of Dundee Please note before submitting your application that you must list your top three project choices in the Research Proposal section of the application form. When you complete your application form, you should include your top 3 project choices, 2 letters of reference, uploaded under "Other Information" > "Supporting documents" and a personal statement. Failure to do so will delay your application. Please note when submitting an application, please note our intake deadlines on the ‘how to apply’ section of our website.