Objective
In this proposal, Dr. Ruthstein and her new group at the chemistry department in Bar-Ilan University, Israel, will determine the sensing and transcription mechanisms of metal ion sensors in bacteria. Metals are commonly found as natural constituents of proteins; however, many metal ions can be toxic when free in biological fluids. Hence, microorganisms have evolved considerable regulatory machinery to control the intracellular and extracellular concentrations and types of metal ions encountered in their microenvironments. Gene regulatory proteins, called metal sensor proteins mediate this metal traffic control. These proteins have evolved metal coordination sites that “sense” specific metal ion and activate or inhibit DNA binding or transcription activation, thereby controlling the expression of genes that mediate what must be an exquisitely selective adaptive response. In order to understand how the sensor senses a specific metal and by this initiates a biological process, one has to be able to probe strutuctural changes that occur in the protein as a function of binding of the correct and wrong metal ion, and the binding of the DNA. This work will use site-directed spin labeling together with pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) to shed light on such processes. EPR is an excellent tool to resolve systems that evolve protein-protein interaction and protein-DNA interaction. Distances up to 80 Å between two paramagnetic spin labels can be measured by pulsed EPR. In some cases, the measurement of one distance (or a few) is sufficient to establish the plausibility of a mechanism or corroborate a proposed structure. This work will initially focus on two Cu+ sensors (CsoR, CueR) from CsoR and MerR families. The first family inhibits DNA binding upon metal binding and the second activates transcription, but the research will extend in the future to other metal sensors from each of the families.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2011-CIG
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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.
MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG)
Coordinator
52900 Ramat Gan
Israel
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.