Open Positions

Ph.D. project: Synthesis and characterization of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) analogues

Supervisor: Lenka Žáková

Insulin and Insulin-like growth factors-1 and 2 (IGF-1 and IGF-2) are related protein hormones or growt factors, which control metabolism, growth and aging of cells in many type of mammalian tissues. Whereas insulin affected mainly metabolism of saccharides, proteins and lipids, IGF-1/2 mainly promoted proliferation of cells and their differentiation. Insulin and IGF-1/2 have similar primary sequences and 3D structures as well, and it allows overlapping of their physiological effects. The disturbance of regulation, but also the overlapping of signalization of insulin and IGFs can lead to development of various diseases, such as diabetes or cancer.

The aim of the study is using IGF-2 analogues to clarify the significance of specific IGF-2 amino acids in different binding to particular receptor and its different response. Analogues will be prepared recombinantly in E.coli. Further, the binding affinities of analogues to respective receptors will be measured and these biological features will be correlated with their analogue structures determined either by crystallography or NMR.