| KEYWORD |
Effects of hydration on structural and functional properties of tubulin
keywords CONDUCTIVITY, HYDRATION, MICROTUBULES, RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, TUBULIN
Reference persons JACEK ADAM TUSZYNSKI
External reference persons Prof. Karthik Shankar, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
Research Groups 28- biomedica
Thesis type EXPERIMENTAL
Description We have been measuring and modeling ionic conduction properties of tubulin and microtubules in solution under various experimental conditions. Our results indicate that ionic conductivity is strongly dependent on pH and ionic concentration of the buffer. An attempt has been made to measure intrinsic conductivity of tubulin in powder form but the results were very noisy. This project is intended to investigate how tubulin conductivity can be controlled by the level of hydration. Tubulin in powder form will be exposed to an atmosphere at different hydration levels and measurements will be performed to calibrate the effect of hydration on conductivity (both real and imaginary parts). This will be repeated for dry microtubule samples. Additional experiments will involve exposure of the protein to laser light and subsequent measurements of the Raman spectra of the samples which is intended to inform us about the structural changes that may be induced by exposure to electromagnetic radiation in the visible and near visible range. Conductivity measurements will involve the use patterned electrodes on a substrate which have been manufactured in the University of Alberta nanofabrication facility.
Required skills basic laboratory techniques involving sample preparation, electrical measurements using semiconductor characterization devices
Notes This research will be conducted at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada but data analysis and interpretation can be performed in Italy
Deadline 29/03/2023
PROPONI LA TUA CANDIDATURA