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Project properties |
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| Title | Activation of fungal receptors via receptomics: A proof of principle study |
| Group | Plant Breeding, Laboratory of |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 24-36 ECTS |
| Supervisor(s) | Maurice Henquet, Arend van Peer/Karin Scholtmeijer |
| Examiner(s) | Arend van Peer |
| Contact info | maurice.henquet@wur.nl, karin.scholtmeijer@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2024/10/01 |
| End date | 2025/04/01 |
| Description | G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are extracellular signalling receptors that detect environmental cues. Fungi primarily sense their environment through GPCR-mediated signalling pathways, which regulate key aspects of fungal biology such as development, metabolism, virulence, and mycotoxin biosynthesis. Despite their significance, the specific functions and ligands binding to many of these receptors in fungi remain elusive. Understanding fungal GPCRs could yield significant insights for the cultivation and biology of fungi or for example, the development of novel antifungal drugs. The receptomics research group at the Department of Bioscience has pioneered a flow assay for real-time measurement of receptor activation using fluorescence microscopy. In this master thesis project, we aim to investigate the activation of various fungal receptors in response to environmental cues, novel repellents or attractants. Students can participate by cloning relevant fungal receptors and determining the binding specificity for several compounds using the receptor assay available at Bioscience. |
| Used skills | This research offers a versatile opportunity, requiring familiarity with various techniques including cell culture, microbiology, molecular cloning, microfluidics, and fluorescent imaging |
| Requirements | basics of microbiology and molecular biology |