Structural & functional investigation of potential drug targets in metastatic melanoma. (360G-Wellcome-090172_Z_09_Z)

The aims of this project are to investigate which scaffolding proteins are crucial for the invasive phenotype of metastatic melanoma cells, determine crystal structures of scaffolding protein complexes and evaluate the potential of the protein-protein interactions as targets for drug discovery. There are two parts to the project, and the student will spend time in two laboratories: First, the student will carry out structural studies in the laboratory of Richard Bayliss; Second, the student will conduct cell and molecular biology studies in the laboratory of Richard Marais. The student will learn how to determine protein complex structures using X-ray crystallography, how to design structure-based mutations that disrupt protein-protein interactions, and how to conduct studies into the cellular effects of targeted disruption by RNAi. The student will also gain insights into target selection and assessment for drug discovery.