Objective
This interdisciplinary proposal will investigate whether the activity of a unique family of membrane transport proteins can be harnessed to develop novel strategies for the bioinspired fabrication of nanoscale materials and provide new directions in synthetic biology. Silicon transporters (SITs) are integral membrane proteins that were first identified in the diatoms, single–celled eukaryotic algae that surround themselves with a cell wall of hydrated silica. The biosynthesis of this ‘glass house’ depends upon the uptake of silicic acid, the soluble form of silica, from the environment. The SITs bind silicic acid with high affinity and transport it across the cytoplasmic membrane into the cell. Under this proposal the SITs will be recombinantly expressed and purified before being reconstituted into synthetic liposomes. The resulting proteoliposomes will be energized to drive SIT-dependent transport of silicic acid into the interior lumen. Since the lumen has dimensions on the nanometer length scale and attolitre volume, the proteoliposomes will act as discrete nanoreactors for the synthesis of silica nanoparticles. Using SIT proteins to deliver silicic acid to the growing nanoparticle offers an unprecedented degree of tunable kinetic control over the synthetic conditions that, together with the lumen microenvironment, may induce novel particle morphologies or properties. This principle will be extended in two further directions. First, encapsulating preformed inorganic nanoparticles in the liposome lumen will lead to the formation of core-shell nanoparticles with a functional core and passive silica shell. Using SITs to control the supply of the synthetic precursor will provide unparalleled tight control over the thickness of the silica shell. A second element will create a diatom protocell by incorporating silica-condensing peptides into the lumen in order to generate silica nanostructures. This will establish a unique new methodology for nanoscale synthesis.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences synthetic biology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology phycology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
ERC-2011-StG_20101109
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Host institution
BS8 1QU BRISTOL
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.