PostPost-Doctoral Position to study the role of fat-taste modifiers in obesity
Post date: Nov 02, 2018 11:13:36 PM
Post-Doctoral Position to study the role of fat-taste modifiers in obesity
The position is funded by Burgundy-Franche Conté Region and is available in UMR1231, Team - Physiologie de la Nutrition & Toxicologie (NUTox),
AgroSup/UBFC/INSERM, Dijon, France.
Description / Mission: Given the link between obesity risk and chronic fat overconsumption, it has become critical to understand the role of lipid-mediated regulation of feeding behaviour. Recent evidences from rodent raise the possibility for an additional sixth taste modality devoted to the perception of dietary lipids. Our team has shown that, in mouse circumvallate papillae, the receptor-like lipid-binding proteins, CD36 and GPR120, play a significant role in dietary lipid perception. These two proteins seem to play alternative roles to control, respectively, detection of dietary fat and post-prandial regulation of eating behavior. The long-chain fatty acids like linoleic acid by binding to these receptors trigger increases in [Ca2+]i in taste bud cells (TBC) and downstream signaling mechanisms, responsible for the transfer of gustatory message to brain and then to intestine via mouth-brain-gut axis.
At present, the NUTox team is involved in the synthesis of novel “fat taste-modifiers” that would mimic as natural dietary fatty acids and, by binding to lingual CD36/GPR120, trigger “fat-like taste” sensation. These agents, in principle, would bring no calories and can replace lipids in our daily meal and can be used in the management/treatment of obesity and its associated pathological conditions. The NUTox team has recently submitted two patents on the synthesis of such fat analogues. In the future project, the post-doc will explore antiobesity actions of some of these “fat taste modifiers” in the mouse. The candidate will also identify the targets of these agents and explore cell signalling mechanisms at the taste bud level ex-vivo.
Profil: The ideal candidate will hold a recent PhD in molecular biology or biochemistry. We are looking for a highly motivated and independent candidate, having skills in conventional techniques like primary cell culture, cell purification, in-vitro kinase assays, HPLC, RT-qPCR and western blot. Preference will be given to a candidate who will possess expertise in Single-Cell RT-PCR, CHIP and siRNA technology with prior knowledge, if possible, of the oro-sensory systems.
Candidature: Interested candidates should send, via e-mail, the following documents:
-Curriculum Vitae,
-Cover letter including a brief statement of research interests and accomplishments,
-Names, full addresses and e-mails of 2 referees to:
Contact : Naim A. KHAN, tel:+33.3.80.39.63.12; naim.khan@u-bourgogne.fr
Team-Physiologie de la Nutrition & Toxicologie, INSERM U1231,
AgroSup/Université de Bourgogne, 2100 Dijon.
Selected publications/references of the team:
Khan AS, Hichami A, Khan NA. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2018 Jun 22. doi: 10.1097/MCO [Epub ahead of print]
Murtaza B et al. Front Physiol. 2017 Mar 8;8:134.
Besnard P, Passilly-Degrace P, Khan NA. Physiol Rev. 2016 Jan;96(1):151-76;
Subramaniam S et al. FASEB J. 2016 Oct;30(10):3489-3500;
Ozdener MH et al., Gastroenterology. 2014 Apr;146(4):995-1005;
Dramane G et al., J Clin Invest. 2012 Jun;122(6):2267-82.