Missions

Take charge of a multidisciplinary project: chemical and peptide synthesis, conformational studies (NMR, DC, molecular modeling, etc.), collaborative biological assessments.
Regular report writing, participation in consortium meetings.

Activités

This project is dedicated to the development of new constrained amino acids based on the
cyclopropane amino acid (ACC) characteristic, in order to study the impact on conformational
properties and lipophilicity when they are incorporated into peptides. Model peptides will be
synthesized and analyzed in term of conformations by comparing theoretical results from molecular
modeling calculations (in collaboration) and experimental results from structural identifications by
NMR and CD. The results obtained will lead to the design and synthesis of optimized compounds
with a view of therapeutic applications. The final objective is to use these non-natural amino acids in
peptides of biological interest to improve binding and enzymatic stability. All the original ACC
supplied by our partner will be introduced into neurotensin as a model active peptide, and the binding
and half-life of the analogues obtained will be measured. The best candidates will be tested in vivo on pain model in mice in collaboration. The biological results will be confronted with the conformations in order to develop a rationale, which would allow a prediction of the selectivity.

Compétences

The candidate must have a Ph.D. in chemistry for less than three years and have demonstrated skills in organic synthesis, purification and characterization of products (NMR, LCMS, and semipreparative HPLC). Experience in solid supported synthesis will be appreciated but not compulsary. Knowledges in conformation analysis (NMR, CD) will be an added value. The ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary research team as well as effective communication and writing skills are important, as the project benefits from a collaborative approach bringing together chemists, theoreticians and biologists.

Contexte de travail

The recruited candidate will join the team «Stereoselective Synthesis & Modified Amino Acids» headed by Dr Florine Cavelier at IBMM-DAPP (Institute of biomolecules Max Mousseron, Amino Acids and Peptides Department), located in the Pôle Chimie Balard in Montpellier. The project will be carried out in collaboration with the ANR consorsium.

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.

Contraintes et risques

none

Informations complémentaires

Project FLUORAAC - Agence Nationale de la Recherche
Fluorinated Cyclopropane Amino Acids: from Synthesis to Structural Implication in
Peptides for Biological Applications.