Free position: New postdoctoral position will be opened since October 01, 2013.
 
Purinergic P2X receptors (H. Zemková)
 
Applications are invited for a postdoctoral researcher to work on molecular structure-function relationships and physiology of purinergic P2X receptors. The successful applicant should have PhD from biomedicine, biochemistry or biophysics, and should be experienced in patch clamp technique, or molecular biology, or biochemical methods used in the laboratory. In addition to conduct a research, the applicant will guide methodological courses on "Basis of receptor neurophysiology" for pregraduate students. Part of the work will be performed at cooperating laboratory in USA. Position will be finances by The Center of Biomedical Research established at the Institute of Physiology with support from the EU funds (CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0025). The position is opened since October 2013, initially for 12 months and may be extended. Submit your application (personal letter CV and names of two references) to zemkova@biomed.cas.cz

Main Topics:
1. Structure and function of purinergic P2X receptors.
2. Purinergic signaling in pituitary and hypothalamus.
3. Melatonin receptors and excitability of pituitary cells.


Research:
Laboratory is focused on the research of pituitary and hypothalamus. The main interest is on functional expression of purinergic P2X receptors and melatonin receptors that control intracellular calcium signaling, excitability and secretion of hormones from pituitary gland. Using perforated patch clamp recording, microfluorimetric techniques and radioimmunoassay, the effect of melatonin on GnRH-stimulated electrical activity, Ca2+ oscillations is studied in primary culture of neonatal pituitary cells. In neurons of suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON) in hypothalamic rat brain slices, modulation of synaptic transmission and physiological and pharmacological properties of purinergic P2X receptors are investigated. Recent research is focused on structure and function relationship of ATP-gated ion channels studied using mutagenesis and expression of mutated receptors in transfected HEK293 cells.
 

PUBLICATIONS
(Authors of the Department are underlined.)