AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a critical regulator of cellular energy metabolism found in all eukaryotes. Despite decades of research in mammalian systems, astonishingly we know almost nothing about how AMPK functions in microalgae, a diverse class of organisms covering 70,000+ species. Microalgae are fascinating organisms that photosynthesise in light and survive on exogenous carbon sources in the dark. They are also economically and environmentally important because they can be harnessed to generate biofuels, bioplastics, food, feedstock and nutraceuticals.
In collaboration with the Algal Processing group at University of Melbourne, this project will use a combination of biochemistry, cell biology, mass spectrometry and structural biology, in a supportive and well-equipped environment, to generate new and fundamental knowledge on the structure and function of AMPK from the model algae Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii. Outcomes will reveal the potential of AMPK-targetted metabolic engineering to improve algal bioproductivity. Applicants considering this project will need to be motivated and curious.
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