About me:

Electron cryo-tomography of protein transport systems

We employ different techniques in electron cryo-microscopy to study the fundamental process of protein transport across cell membranes. We investigate a number of research themes - mitochondrial protein import, the bacterial type IV pilus assembly machinery and the mechanism of filamentous bacteriophage infection and egress. These are important topics that can help us to understand the principles of protein transport, and how mechanisms may be compromised in disease states or exploited on bacterial and viral infection.

See our group website here

Biography

During her undergraduate summer project, Vicki Gold became fascinated by the concept of protein translocation across membranes. She embarked on a career starting at the University of Bristol, where she was awarded her PhD for studies on the general protein secretory (Sec) pathway in bacteria. After award of an EMBO Long-Term fellowship, she moved to the Max-Planck Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt, Germany to work on mitochondrial protein import. During this time, the technique of electron cryo-microscopy was undergoing a so-called “resolution revolution”. The ability to determine protein structures at near-atomic level detail sparked her interest in the powerful method. Vicki developed her own research themes using electron cryo-microscopy to investigate protein transport systems and returned to the UK in 2017 to start her own lab. Vicki is based in the Living Systems Institute.

Research Team

Dr. Rebecca Conners (PDRA)

Dr. Van Hung Vuong Le (PDRA) 

Dr. Mathew McLaren (CryoEM Experimental Officer)

Erin Maugahn (PhD student)

Qualifications:

2008: PhD Biochemistry, University of Bristol
2004: BSc Biological Sciences, University of Warwick

Career:

2024-present: Associate Professor, Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK

2016-2014: Senior Lecturer, Living Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK
2011-2016: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Germany
2008-2011: Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, UK
2004-2007: Postgraduate Research Assistant, School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, UK