The Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), Berlin-Buch is a cooperation between the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max-Delbrück-Centrum for Molecular Medicine (MDC) that focuses on biomedical translational research. The ECRC research group Genetics of Congenital Heart Disease conducts translational research to explore disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic options of pediatric cardiomyopathy.

Master Thesis in Biochemistry | Biology | Biotechnology | Molecular Medicine

Background
The HSP70 system plays a pivotal role for cellular homeostasis and stress response in postmitotic cardiomyocytes. The BAG3 Gene encodes a nucleotide exchange factor (NEF) for the HSP70 complex that critically controls HSP70 activity and cellular proteostasis. Recently, pathogenic genetic variants in the BAG3 gene were linked to cardiomyopathy. Currently we explore the impact of selected BAG3 missense variants for HSP70 activity and cellular proteostasis.

Your responsibilities

• Analysis of BAG3 missense variants in HeLa cells for subcellular localization and protein stability after transient transfection
• Testing the impact of BAG3 missense variants for autophagy and protein aggregation
• Supporting establishment of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) carrying BAG3 missense mutations

Your profile

• Fulfilled requirements for a master thesis
• First laboratory expertise with basic techniques in molecular biology, protein biochemistry and cell biology
• High motivation for a biomedical research project

Kontakt:
Dr. rer. nat. Jirko Kühnisch
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC) | Max-Delbrück-Centrum for Molecular Medicine (MDC)
Lindenberger Weg 80
13125 Berlin, Germany
Email: jirko.kuehnisch@mdc-berlin.de