PhD Student (f/m) on ID10 in the Complex systems and Biomedical sciences

Thesis Subject: Combination of X-Ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy and Small Angle X-Ray Scattering to investigate Phase Separating Proteins

Phase separations (PS) are revolutionizing biology [1]. However, the physics underlying PS even in simplified in vitro systems is poorly understood, requiring the development of new methodologies to probe PS formation, dynamics, structure and to develop predictive models governing its behaviour.

The proposed thesis project will use as a model the protein EARLY FLOWERING 3 (ELF3) from Arabidopsis thaliana, which has recently been shown to undergo PS in a temperature dependent manner. Recombinant ELF3 in the soluble, liquid condensed and hydrogel phases will be studied using a combination of X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) in order to determine the structural and dynamic properties in the different phases.

The project will be in collaboration between ESRF (Marco Cammarata and Mark Tully) and the Cell & Plant Physiology Laboratory in Grenoble (Chloe Zubieta).

It exploits different biophysical and structural techniques to characterise biological phase separation and will require to study a wide breadth of different techniques. This will also provide the student with extensive mobility opportunities. While the XPCS and SAXS experiments will be performed at the ESRF, we collaborate with the teams in Europe for molecular modelling and correlative microscopies. The student will have opportunities to visit and perform experiments with these collaborators.

Further information may be obtained from Marco Cammarata (tel.: +33 (0)4 76 88 23-91, email: marco.cammarata@esrf.fr ) and Mark Tully (tel.: +33 (0)4 76 88 45-46, email: mark.tully@esrf.fr ).

[1] https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00547-1)