Project Title: Structure/function relationships of the Tie2 receptor tyrosine kinase in endocytosis and signaling

Supervisor:   Professor Elizabeth Smythe

Available immediately: BHF-funded studentship.

Background:

A major challenge for regeneration of damaged vascular tissue is understanding how to manipulate cells so that the processes of vasculogeneis, angiogenesis and vascular homeostasis can be recapitulated. Tie2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is expressed in endothelial cells and is essential for vasculogenesis and maintenance of blood vessel integrity in the adult vasculature. Tie2 activation results in a variety of downstream processes including migration, cell survival, sprouting and tube formation.

A key question is how all of these biological processes are specifically regulated. An emerging paradigm is that the endocytic pathway modulates intracellular signaling such that the localization of signaling components on the endocytic pathway can determine signaling output. In this proposal we will address how endocytic trafficking modulates Tie2 signaling. This work should provide important insight into the role of endocytosis in regulation of Tie2-dependent physiological processes.

Contact Details:

Professor Liz Smythe

http://www.shef.ac.uk/bms/research/esmythe

Email: e.smythe@sheffield.ac.uk