Master thesis (f/m/x) – Molecular mechanisms behind the neurodevelopmental disorder PURA syndrome

At Helmholtz Munich, we develop groundbreaking solutions for a healthier society in a rapidly changing world. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation. Through strong partnerships, we accelerate the transfer of new ideas from the lab to real-life applications, improving lives.

We at the Institute of Structural Biology (STB) at Helmholtz Munich study the structure and function of the PURA protein. Our overall goal is to understand PURA’s cellular functions and the molecular consequences of a PURA deficiency in PURA syndrome patients. Therefore, we use genetically modified immortalized cell lines and patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). High-throughput techniques in these cells already gave us first ideas about PURA’s interactome and in which pathways PURA may play a role. These data need further validation to identify specific molecular mechanisms that cause the severe disorder. Ultimately, we want to provide information that can lead to the development of treatment strategies for PURA syndrome patients.

Interested? Join us on this crucial and challenging task for your master thesis or contact us if you want to be part of this as an intern.

For further information on the PURA Syndrome visit: https://www.purasyndrome.org/; and check out our lab: https://www.helmholtz-munich.de/en/stb/research-groups/niessing-lab