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CLARIFICATION: OPEN TO USA AND NON-USA CITIZENS/RESIDENTS
POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS IN MAMMALIAN FERTILIZATION
NIH-funded postdoctoral positions are available immediately to study
the biochemistry of mammalian gamete recognition. Recent studies show
that sperm surface galactosyltransferase is a receptor for ZP3
oligosaccharides in the egg zona pellucida
(<fontfamily><param>Geneva</param>Nature, 1992,
357:589-593</fontfamily>). Aggregation of galactosyltransferase by
multivalent ZP3 oligosaccharides leads to activation of a
heterotrimeric G-protein cascade, which culminates in the acrosome
reaction (Science, 1995,<fontfamily><param>Geneva</param>
269:1718-1721</fontfamily>). Although galactosyltransferase-null sperm
do not bind ZP3 oligosaccharides nor undergo an acrosome reaction, they
still bind to the zona pellucida (Development,
1997,<fontfamily><param>Geneva</param> 124:4121-4131</fontfamily>).
This suggests that galactosyltransferase cooperates with other sperm
surface components to form a multimeric receptor complex. Postdoctoral
training will be in the biochemical and molecular analysis of sperm
surface and cytosolic proteins that cooperate with
galactosyltransferase to facilitate sperm-egg recognition and
intracellular signaling.
Experience in biochemistry, molecular biology and/or mammalian gamete
biology are desirable.
Pleas send CV to:
Barry D. Shur, Ph.D.
Department of Cell Biology
Emory University School of Medicine
1648 Pierce Drive, Room 100
Atlanta, GA 30322
USA
voice: 404-727-4315
fax: 404-727-6256
email: barry at cellbio.emory.edu
