Postdoc: Revealing ribosomes using single-molecule and RNA sequencing

Work Activities
Summary - In this project, you will perform innovative (bio)physics experiments to elucidate the dynamic action of individual ribosomes - specifically their interactions within polysomes. The key methodologies are optical tweezers, single-molecule fluorescence, as well as selective ribosome profiling an exciting new RNA sequencing method. Working in the Tans biophysics lab @ AMOLF Amsterdam, you will visualize the real-time translation activity of ribosomes, how multiple ribosomes work together, detect the folding of individual polypeptide chains, and show how chaperones guide this process. You will work in an international team, with other groups specialized in ribosome profiling and cryo-EM techniques. The aim is to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms that underlie the correct and erroneous production of new proteins.
Questions - According to textbooks, ribosomes work individually to produce proteins. However, recent insights from our lab...