Functional validation of recombination QTLs in S.cerevisiae within the BASE team - Biology of Adaptation and Systems in Evolution.
Research Ingeneer (M2 or PhD) position for 16 months within the ANR project EVOLREC.
May start from December 1st, 2023 on.

Scientific context and research questions

Meiotic recombination through crossing-over (CO) is a key process with major implications in genome evolution, dynamics of trait adaptation and organismal fitness. However, CO number and positionning are strongly regulated but the selective pressures that have led to these regulations remain unclear. In fact, the interplay between recombination and adaptation is complex because COs can modulate the speed of adaptation via exploiting standing genetic variation, and inversely, evolutionary processes leading to adaptation can indirectly drive changes in CO rates.
The EVOLREC project addresses the following scientific questions:

• Is recombination rate able to evolve as a response to artificial directional selection ?
• What are the CIS and TRANS genetic determinants of CO number and positioning ?
• What is the interplay between recombination and adaptation to stress ?

Experimental approaches and focus of the job

To address these questions experimentally in S. cerevisiae, we have already developed a high-throughput method based on flow cytometry using fluorescent markers, to measure recombination and sort recombinant spores by FACS [1, 2]. We have carried out 10 generations of experimental evolution under divergent recurrent selection for higher or lower recombination rate (see Figure below) in a yeast population with large genetic diversity reproducing sexually. Evolved populations have then been pool-sequenced to detect recombination QTLs (acting in cis and in trans) based on allelic frequency changes.
From these QTLs, candidate genes will be indentified and their biological function on modulating recombination will be investigated with functional genomics approaches such as overexpression and allelic replacement. Recombination phenotypes will be measured at high-throughput by FACS in several genomic regions.

All ressources - biological material, tools, and methods - necessary to the project have already been produced or obtained.

Working environment

Our lab is located in the Paris-Saclay campus, a large concentration of scientific and higher education institutions in close proximity to the Gif-sur-Yvette CNRS center, Paris-Saclay university, and at 45 minutes by train from Paris.

Key-words

recombination QTLs, functional validation, S. cerevisiae

Required skills

Masters or PhD in genetics or molecular biology. Wet-lab experience in molecular biology and/or microbiology is required (functional genomics or yeast experience is a plus). Spoken and written english

Contacts

Applications should be sent by e-mail to Matthieu Falque