Post-doctoral position (2 years): MicroRNA encoded peptides newly discovered in plants:

Mode of action and existence in humans 

Mission MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs known to control genes, especially regulatory genes like transcription factors. They have been considered for a long time as non-coding RNAs. We have shown recently that primary transcripts of miRNAs encode for small regulatory peptides (miPEPs; Lauressergues et al., 2015). These miPEPs activate specifically the expression of their associated miRNA. This novel property can be used in agronomy to improve plant development by treating plants with exogenous peptides. In collaboration with specialists of structural biology and human miRNAs involved in cancer, the aim of our project is i) to decipher the molecular bases of specificity of miPEPs for their associated miRNA, and ii) to identify whether miPEPs exist in humans. This is a two-year post-doc position funded by a Toulouse University grant (IDEX Emergence project). The post-doc scientist will be working in the group of Jean-Philippe Combier, in the Laboratoire de Recherche en Sciences Végétales (LRSV), which is located in Castanet- Tolosan, close to Toulouse, France, in collaboration with V. Gervais and A. Milon (IPBS, Toulouse, France), and Estelle Espinos and Marina Bousquet (CRCT, P. Brousset team, Toulouse, France). 

Candidates profile

A strong background in molecular biology and analysis of NGS is essential for this position. An expertise in structural biochemistry will be appreciated. The recruited post-doc will design and perform experiments using plant and human model systems. 

Applications

Please send a letter of interest, a CV (containing a detailed list of publications, a description of all relevant experience, and 2 letters of reference or contact information of two referees). Please send your complete application by email to: combier@lrsv.ups-tlse.fr 

Recent publications on the subject:

Couzigou JM, Lauressergues D, Bécard G, Combier JP. miRNA-encoded peptides (miPEPs): a new tool to analyse the roles of miRNAs in plant biology. RNA biology. 2015. 12:1178- 1180. Lauressergues D, Couzigou JM, San Clemente H, Martinez Y, Dunand C, Bécard G, Combier JP. Primary transcripts of microRNAs encode regulatory peptides. Nature. 2015. 

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