Postdoc position to study polarised secretion in epithelial cells using quantitative super-resolution imaging. The St Johnston group, Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge

Epithelial cell function depends on the localisation of specific membrane proteins, such as receptors, ion channels and adhesion molecules, to either the apical, lateral or basal sides of the cell, but how their exocytosis is targeted to these domains is not well-understood. We and collaborators have developed tools to induce the synchronous release of labelled proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum so that we can visualise the trafficking of apical, lateral, and basolateral proteins from the Golgi to the plasma membrane. The goal of the project is to use quantitative super-resolution microscopy (qPAINT) to count the number of cargo molecules in post Golgi carriers and to determine how efficiently cargoes that traffic to different membrane domains segregate from each other at each stage of the secretory pathway.  This work will be part of a larger project to determine how epithelial polarity factors function to establish and maintain the apical-basal polarisation of epithelial cells and how they control polarised secretion.

This project will complement and synergise with existing approaches in the lab, including Drosophila genetics, optogenetics and advanced live and super-resolution imaging. This is an opportunity for a motivated researcher with expertise in cell biology and imaging to join a multi-disciplinary team.

Funding for the project is for 2 years in the first instance, with a preferred start in October 2021, and fellowship applications will be encouraged. For more details contact d.stjohnston@gurdon.cam.ac.uk. To apply, go to https://www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/30290/

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