Open positions:

Post-doctoral position in Cell Physiology
University of Geneva , Switzerland

A post-doctoral position is immediately available at the Department of Cell Physiology and Metabolism, University of Geneva, to study the role of the newly cloned proton channel HV 1 on the function of NADPH oxidases (NOX) 1,2 . NOX move electrons across cell membranes, enabling white blood cells to kill bacteria. NOX activity requires ion channel function for charge compensation, but the identity of the channel involved is controversial: it is not clear whether proton channels or potassium channels provide the charge compensation 3,4 and whether NOX is a proton channel or a proton channel modulator 5-7 . The project on which you will embark will establish whether HV 1 is the proton channel of phagocytes, and whether HV 1 channels are required for NOX function. For this purpose, you will combine gene silencing with functional imaging and electrophysiological recordings of electron and proton currents in phagocytic cell lines 8 . If successful, your experiments will clarify a long-standing debate about the role and identity of proton channels, and open new avenues for the treatment of diseases linked to altered innate immunity . A background in cell biology and/or knowledge of electrophysiological techniques would be an advantage, but it is not essential . Salary and benefits according to University of Geneva standards are available for two years. Interested candidates should send a motivation letter, CV, and names of 2 persons of reference to: Nicolas.Demaurex@medecine.unige.ch

References:

1. Sasaki, M., Takagi, M. & Okamura, Y. A Voltage Sensor-Domain Protein is a Voltage-Gated Proton Channel. Science (2006).
2. Ramsey, I. S., Moran, M. M., Chong, J. A. & Clapham, D. E. A voltage-gated proton-selective channel lacking the pore domain. Nature (2006).
3. Ahluwalia, J. et al. The large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ channel is essential for innate immunity. Nature 427 , 853-8 (2004).
4. DeCoursey, T. E. During the respiratory burst, do phagocytes need proton channels or potassium channels, or both? Sci STKE 2004 , pe21 (2004).
5. Banfi, B. et al. A mammalian H+ channel generated through alternative splicing of the NADPH oxidase homolog NOH-1. Science 287 , 138-42 (2000).
6. Maturana, A. et al. Heme histidine ligands within gp91(phox) modulate proton conduction by the phagocyte NADPH oxidase. J Biol Chem 276 , 30277-84 (2001).
7. Maturana, A., Krause, K. H. & Demaurex, N. NOX family NADPH oxidases: do they have built-in proton channels? J Gen Physiol 120 , 781-6 (2002).
8. Petheo, G. L., Maturana, A., Spat, A. & Demaurex, N. Interactions between electron and proton currents in excised patches from human eosinophils. J Gen Physiol 122 , 713-26 (2003).