Update (18 October 2016): This position has now been filled.
One (1) MSc by full research position is currently available in my lab, on the biochemistry of heat shock protein 47. Application is welcomed from Malaysian candidate, with suitable background (good BSc degree in chemistry, biochemistry, biology or related). Monthly allowance will be provided. Please email me at firdausw@utm.my if interested.
PROJECT DETAILS
Project title: Binding Strength and pH-release Behaviour of Human Heat Shock Protein 47 (HSP47).
Main supervisor: Dr. Mohd Firdaus Abdul Wahab, Faculty of Biosciences and Medical Engineering, UTM.
Co-supervisors: Dr. Normala Abd. Latip, Faculty of Pharmacy;
Dr. Siti Hamimah Sheikh Abdul Kadir, Institute for Medical Molecular Biotechnology, UiTM.
Summary: Previously, we have successfully constructed a series of His-to-Ala (HA) mutants targeting all fourteen histidine residues of human HSP47, to elucidate the so- called “pH-switch mechanism”. This is the mechanism known to govern the release of HSP47 from collagen. While some HA mutations do not pose significant perturbations in HSP47 function, several others were found to impair the binding to collagen. This current project is thus proposed to investigate this effect, and to further investigate the pH-switch mechanism using a more advanced biophysical technique. Several HA mutants will be subjected to an ELISA-based binding assay, and pH-titration circular dichroism spectroscopy. This project is expected to further shed light on the involvement of histidine residues to HSP47 behaviour, not only on the release mechanism, but also on the binding or on maintaining the protein structural integrity.