Advisor: Andreas Heyland [1], Integrative Biology

Proposed computational advisor: Rui Huang [2]

Thyroid hormones are known to signal via non-genomics pathways (non canonical), involving integrin dimers, in addition to their canonical nuclear hormone receptor pathway. The integrin based signaling system is know to be involved in metastasis and other epithelial to mesenchyme transitions in animals, however target receptors are poorly understood. In this project, students will identify integrin subunits from the sea urchin genome and model their structure using a range of AI based tools. Based on these models, they will conduct binding simulations with several thyroid hormones to generate a model for this signaling system in development.

This can be a one- or two-semester project. The student is required to occasionally be on-site.

Knowledge/Skills

Familiarity with protein structure and programming skills