Objective
Understanding how cells control their shape is an important scientific goal, since cells in our body constantly need to undergo shape changes to perform vital tasks such as growth and division. Conversely, abnormal cell shape changes contribute to life-threatening diseases such as cancer and developmental disorders. I propose to resolve the physical basis of active cell shape control by studying minimal cells built from purified cellular components. The main determinant of cell shape in animals is the actin cortex beneath the cell membrane, which contains molecular motors that actively generate forces. There is growing evidence that cells tightly balance these active forces with passive forces arising from cortex-membrane adhesion and elasticity. However, it is unclear how these forces are generated and controlled on the molecular level given the enormous complexity of cells. To circumvent this complexity, we will reconstitute cell-free actin networks and couple them to model biomembranes with the essential cellular linker protein septin. Using various advanced microscopy techniques, we will study (1) how active cortical networks and lipid bilayers influence each other’s spatial organization; (2) how active cortical networks control membrane shape; and (3) how spatial gradients in cortex contractility can cause cell shape polarization. My long-term ambition is to bridge the gap between the physical properties of cell-free model systems and biological functions in living cells. Thanks to recent breakthroughs in our understanding of the biophysical properties of contractile actin networks, we can now build more relevant cell-free model systems that can mimic active cell shape changes. To test the biological relevance of our findings, we will confront our results with live cell observations in fly embryos, together with a developmental biology group. Ultimately, the model cells developed here will enable a wide range of further studies of cellular (mal)functions.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences developmental biology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine embryology
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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-2013-StG
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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.
Host institution
3526 KV UTRECHT
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.