Version 2 Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras PhD Project Template Use one form per project Please complete & submit to international@nuigalway.ie as soon as possible, and by 27/11/2012 In your email, begin the subject line with [SWB] (be sure to use square brackets) to ensure that your email is filed correctly. Emails will be automatically filed PI name & contact details: School: Corrado Santocanale -Prof. of Molecular Medicine and SFI Principal Investigator Centre for Chromosome Biology and National Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Science National University of Ireland, Galway University road, Galway, Ireland Phone:+353-(0)91-495174 Email: corrado.santocanale@nuigalway.ie School of Natural Sciences Has project been agreed with head (or nominee) of proposed registration school? Research Centre / group affiliation: Research group / centre website: Centre for Chromosome Biology, National Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Science http://www.chromosome.ie http://ncbes.eurhost.net/ PI website / link to CV: http://www.chromosome.ie/researchers/santocanale/ http://ncbes.eurhost.net/bio/corrado-santocanale.aspx Brief summary of PI research / research group / centre activity (2 or 3 lines max): If you are already involved in relevant scholarly activities relating to Brazil, please mention them here. Our laboratory is interested in studying the mechanisms that regulate genome replication in human cells with particular emphasis on the Cdc7 kinase and in exploiting the results of this research for therapeutic purposes. Cdc7 acts as a molecular switch for DNA synthesis and is also thought to participate in several other processes that regulate normal cell cycle progression and chromosome dynamics. Cdc7 inhibitors have promising anticancer activity in preclinical models and are under investigation as experimental drugs in humans. By undestanding how Cdc7 kinase functions at the molecular level we will increase our knowledge of DNA replication as well as help to define the mechanism of action of newly developed Cdc7 inhibitors and how their effectiveness could be increased. Title & brief description of PhD project (suitable for publication on web): Chromatin replication in human cells. DNA replication is possibly the most critical process for the faithful transmission of genetic Version 2 Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras information from mother to daughter cell. Histones and DNA binding proteins in front of the replication fork are removed to allow the DNA to be replicated and are then immediately reassembled onto the DNA after fork passage. Reassembly of histones and duplication of histone marks are crucial for transmission of epigenetic information and for preserving cell-type identity. Chromatin remodeling also occurs when replication forks stall at damaged DNA which favors the recruitment of repair and checkpoint proteins. We will exploit and further develop the Dm-ChP (DNA mediated Chromatin Pulldown) technique to study how chromatin proteins assemble onto newly replicated DNA after passage of a replication fork. We will assess the qualitative and quantitative differences in the chromatin proteome associated with newly replicated DNA in the presence/absence of chemotherapeutic drugs that interfere with DNA and chromatin replication including Cdc7 kinase inhibitors. Unique selling points of PhD project in NUI Galway: This project will allow the student to access the NUIG mass spectrometry facility, directed by the the PI (Corrado Santocanale), and to receive specific training in techniques related to proteomics. Multidisciplinary approaches and the use of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Analytical Biochemistry techniques will be an essential part of the project. The student will be integrated within the Centre of Chromosome Biology. S/He will present and discuss results/progress regularly thus receiving essential feedback and support from approximately 70 scientists (including 11 PIs)with expertise in related fields of investigation. Name & contact details for project queries, if different from PI named above: Please indicate the graduates of which disciplines that should apply: Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology Ciência sem Fronteiras / Science Without Borders Priority Area: Please indicate the specific programme priority area under which the proposed PhD project fits- choose only one (tick box): Engineering and other technological areas Pure and Natural Sciences (e.g. mathematics, physics, chemistry)/Physical Sciences (Mathematics, x Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geosciences) Health and Biomedical Sciences / Clinical, Pré-clinical and Health Sciences Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), Computing Version 2 Universidade Nacional da Irlanda em Galway -- Ciência sem Fronteiras Aerospace Pharmaceuticals Sustainable Agricultural Production Oil, Gas and Coal Renewable Energy Minerals, Minerals Technology Biotechnology Nanotechnology and New Materials Technologies for Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Disasters Bioprospecting and Biodiversity Marine Sciences Creative Industry New technologies in constructive engineering Please indicate which of the following applies to this project (referring to Science Without Borders arrangements): Suitable only as a Full PhD (Y/N): _ _Y___ Available to candidates seeking a Sandwich PhD arrangement (Y/N): _N____ Suitable for either/Don’t know: _____