Cell Signalling and Adhesion Group

In this project you have the possibility to learn about protein structures and how structural information can tell us about its function and regulation in the cell and how in the case of disease its malfunctioning can be corrected. The focus will be on a key protein regulating growth and adhesion signals: the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK). FAK is essential for key cellular processes such as cell adhesion and migration and in cancer is frequently upregulated to cause tumour invasion and metastasis. You will learn how to clone, express and highly purify recombinant versions of this protein and how by conducting structural and biochemical studies on the purified proteins you can learn about the molecular mechanisms underlying the functioning and regulation of FAK in the cell.