Our group specializes in the discovery of new lysine-specific MTase enzymes, but recently we have stumbled upon an exciting novel MTase that forms 1MH within histidine-rich motifs in a large number of different substrate proteins. While we observe ample histidine methylation in vitro, we must investigate whether corresponding 1MH modifications are generated in proteins in human cells and what their functional effects might be.
Master project
In this master project, you will apply fundamental molecular and cell biology techniques to discover previously uncharacterized 1MH sites in human proteins. Through protein overexpression in human cell culture, proteomics and microscopy, you will investigate the histidine methylation status, interactions and localization of several proteins. If successful, the results of the master project will become part of a high-quality publication.
Working environment
We are a tight-knit team of scientists who enjoy working hard while having a lot of fun. You will be closely supervised by Erna Davydova (erna.davydova@ibv.uio.no) and Lisa Schroer (lisa.schroer@ibv.uio.no) in the group of Pål Falnes (pal.falnes@ibv.uio.no). Please contact one of us if you are interested.
A few relevant publications
Wilkinson, Alex W., et al. (2019). SETD3 is an actin histidine methyltransferase that prevents primary dystocia. Nature, 565(7739), 372-376.
Kernstock, S., Davydova, E., Jakobsson, M., Moen, A., Pettersen, S., Mælandsmo, G. M., ... & Falnes, P. Ø. (2012). Lysine methylation of VCP by a member of a novel human protein methyltransferase family. Nature communications, 3(1), 1-11.
Jakobsson, M. E., Małecki, J. M., Halabelian, L., Nilges, B. S., Pinto, R., Kudithipudi, S., Munk, S., Davydova, E., Zuhairi, F. R., Arrowsmith, C. H., Jeltsch, A., Leidel, S. A., Olsen, J. V. & Falnes, P. Ø. (2018). The dual methyltransferase METTL13 targets N terminus and Lys55 of eEF1A and modulates codon-specific translation rates. Nature communications, 9(1), 1-15.
Falnes, P. Ø., Jakobsson, M. E., Davydova, E., Ho, A., & Małecki, J. (2016). Protein lysine methylation by seven-β-strand methyltransferases. Biochemical Journal, 473(14), 1995-2009. (Review article)