Objective
The study of biological processes at the single-molecule level has greatly influenced our view of the molecular mechanisms that define life. However, studies so far have mainly focused on individual, purified proteins in non-physiological environments. Since cellular processes are typically not mediated by single proteins, but rather by large complexes of dynamically interacting components, the development of the tools to study such large complexes with single-molecule sensitivity is an important direction.
With our initial successes in developing the single-molecule tools to study DNA replication, we have begun to open the field of single-molecule biophysics to the study of large, multi-component complexes. Here we describe how we will develop new single-molecule approaches to study the physical interactions and molecular mechanisms that control the DNA replication machinery, both in simple model systems and in higher organisms.
By measuring the elastic properties of DNA and simultaneously visualizing fluorescently labeled replication proteins acting on the same DNA we will be able to relate the physical structure and composition of the replication complex to its mechanism of action. We will also develop the tools to study the replication machinery in cellular extracts of higher organisms; an environment that is compatible with our nanomanipulation and fluorescence tools, but faithfully mimics the complex environment in which these processes normally take place.
Our objective is to arrive at a complete molecular understanding of how DNA replication works. We will use the tools described in this proposal to address a number of poorly understood issues: What is the mechanism of coupling between DNA unwinding and synthesis? How are the two DNA polymerases coordinated? How does replication deal with roadblocks on the DNA? Our approach to obtain “molecular movies” of the replication process represents an entirely novel strategy to understand these issues.
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 genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- humanities arts modern and contemporary art cinematography
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
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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
9712CP Groningen
Netherlands
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.