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Content archived on 2024-06-18

Gene Expression Regulation and Cancer

Objective

Cancer remains the most predominant cause of premature death in Europe. It constitutes a major public health problem with 1.28 million predicted deaths in the European Union in 2011. Changes in the gene expression patterns are a key feature of cancer cell transformation through an increase in expression of genes that promote carcinogenesis (oncogenes) and/or a decrease in expression of genes that prevent it (tumour suppressor genes). Chromatin-structure and microRNAs (miRNAs) both play important roles in this process and have been found to be critical in the development of human pathologies.
DNA is packaged inside cells through a scaffold of proteins, constituting the chromatin. The chromatin not only has a structural role, but it also plays an active role in other processes including gene expression. The SWI/SNF complex is an ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling complex that uses the energy from ATP hydrolysis to modify the interactions between DNA and histones. In this way, the SWI/SNF complex can render the DNA accessible or inaccessible to the transcription machinery. Ever increasing evidence demonstrates that some components of the SWI/SNF complex act as tumour suppressors and their dysregulation is involved in human cancer development.
MiRNAs are a recently discovered class of small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Due to their small size and unusual nature, miRNAs were not discovered in humans until 2000. Today, over one thousand miRNAs have been identified in the human genome. Aberrant biogenesis and/or expression of miRNAs has been linked to human diseases including cancer.
Pioneering reports suggest a functional relationship between the SWI/SNF complex and miRNAs. MiRNAs regulate the expression of chromatin remodelling complex proteins, which in turn have been shown to influence levels of miRNA transcription. In the present proposal, I will study this regulatory relationship in the context of cancer.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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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.

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG
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.

MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG)

Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD DE GRANADA
EU contribution
€ 100 000,00
Address
CUESTA DEL HOSPICIO SN
18071 GRANADA
Spain

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Region
Sur Andalucía Granada
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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.

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