Gram-positive bacteria utilize a heme biosynthesis pathway that differs significantly to the human pathway. Heme is essential for Gram-positive bacteria and many are dangerous superbugs, which exhibit multiple resistances to common antibiotics. Understanding the mechanism of heme biosynthesis in Gram-positive pathogens is the first step towards finding and developing desperately needed novel antibiotic substances, capable of specifically inhibiting bacterial heme biosynthesis. In this thesis the biochemistry of coproporphyrin ferrochelatases will be investigated.

The work will include:

Production and Characterisation of CpfC and selected variants
molecular biological methods: cloning, site directed mutagenesis
protein expression (E.coli) and purification methods
spectroscopic methods: UV-vis, stopped-flow spectroscopy, CD, EPR
thermodynamic methods: DSC, ITC
protein crystallography and structure determination

Start: March or April 2020
Duration: 8 months
Salary: Minor employment
(geringfügige Beschäftigung)