BAM's Biodeterioration and Reference Organisms Divison in collaboration with the research group of Prof. M. Ballauff (Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, FU Berlin) offers a position for a master thesis in the field of chemis-try/biochemistry.

Microorganisms can survive in extreme environments by synthesizing water soluble, low-molecular mass compounds called compatible solutes, which stabilize proteins and membranes against det-rimental effects of freezing, drying, high temperatures, and ionizing radiation. Compatible solutes are of diverse chemical structure comprising different types of sugars (e.g. trehalose), polyols, amino acids (proline), and their derivatives (ectoine, glycine betaine). Little is known about the effect of compatible solutes on DNA, and it is the goal of the proposed master's thesis to study the interaction of compatible solutes with dsDNA. It is planned to investigate the

  • interaction of different solutes (e.g. ectoine, glycine-betaine, glycerol) with dsDNA by isothermal titration calometry (ITC) and
  • changes in DNA stability by applying CD spectrometry and fluorescence spectroscopy.

Furthermore, the effect of compatible solutes on the interaction of DNA-binding enzymes (Taq polymerase, Klenow fragment) will be analyzed as well.

Requirements

  • Graduation as a Bachelor in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biology
  • Completing master's program with emphasis on chemistry, biochemistry, or molecular biology
  • Experience in analytical methods
  • Proficiency in English

Contact

Priv.-Doz. Dr. Hans-Jörg Kunte
Biodeterioration and Reference Organisms Divison (BAM)
Phone: +49 30 8104 1410
Email: hans-joerg.kunte@bam.de

Professor Dr. Matthias Ballauff
Institut für Chemie und Biochemie
Freie Universität Berlin
Takustrasse 3
14195 Berlin,Germany
T: +49 015785522335
matthias.ballauff@fu-berlin.de

further information