France: PhD Position in Biology and Cancer 2010

REGULATION OF ION CHANNELS IN CARCINOGENESIS
France: PhD Position in Biology and Cancer 2010

PhD position (CNRS/PACA funding) available from September 2010 in the Institute of
Developmental Biology and Cancer (UNSA CNRS UMR 6543), in the group of
Dr Franck Borgese at the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis / CNRS, Nice, France.

Thesis supervisor: Dr Olivier Soriani
Our project will focus on the regulation of ion channels involved in
cancer cell behaviour
(apoptosis resistance, extra cellular matrix adhesion and degradation,
motility, proliferation).
Recently, we have demonstrated that a unique tumour biomarker, the
sigma-1 receptor
(Sig1R), was functionally associated to Cl- and K+ channels in lung cancer and leukaemia
cells. We have shown that the over-expression of Sig1R in cancer cells
enhances cell
apoptotic resistance through a decrease of volume-regulated Cl- channels activation kinetics
(Renaudo et al., 2007;
Le Guennec et al., 2008). Moreover, exogenous
sigma ligands inhibit
cell cycle through a K+ channel / p27kip1-dependent
pathway (Renaudo et al. 2004).

The project will deal on the molecular mechanisms associating the Sig1R
to ion channels
aberrantly expressed in leukaemia and breast cancer cells, in relation
to their
aggressiveness state. Finally, in vivo significance of the
described mechanisms will be
explored in a mouse metastatic model.

Main technical approaches: Molecular cell biology, genetics, microscopy
imagery and
electrophysiology (patch-clamp).

We are seeking highly talented and self-motivated candidates. A
background in the field of
electrophysiology and cell physiology will be appreciated. The position
will be available on
September 2010.

Candidates are invited to obtain application forms from soriani@unice.fr or borgese@unice.fr
Application deadline: Friday 30th April.
Provisional date for auditions of short listed candidates: Monday 17th
May
Références:
· Martial,S., Giorgelli,J.L.,
Renaudo,A., Derijard,B., and Soriani,O. (2008). SP600125 inhibits Kv
channels through a JNK-independent pathway in cancer cells. Biochem.
Biophys. Res.
Commun. 366, 944-950
· Renaudo,A., L’Hoste,S.,
Guizouarn,H., Borgese,F., and Soriani,O. (2007). Cancer cell cycle
modulated by a functional coupling between sigma receptors and Cl- channels. J. Biol. Chem.
282, 2259-2267.
· Le Guennec,J.Y., Ouadid-Ahidouch,H.,
Soriani,O., Besson,P., Ahidouch,A., and Vandier,C.
(2007). Voltage-gated ion channels, new targets in anti-cancer research. Recent Patents
Anticancer Drug Discov. 2, 189-202.
· Renaudo,A., Watry,V., Chassot,A.A.,
Ponzio,G., Ehrenfeld,J., and Soriani,O. (2004). Inhibition
of tumor cell proliferation by sigma ligands is associated with K+ Channel inhibition and
p27kip1
accumulation. J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther. 311, 1105-1114.