Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS
Content archived on 2024-06-18

Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis-induced cell proliferation

Objective

Apoptosis-induced proliferation (AiP) is a recently discovered biological process that apoptotic cells are able to stimulate neighbouring cells to undergo additional proliferation. Studies in several model organisms including mammals have suggested that AiP is evolutionary conserved, and may have relevance to both tissue regeneration and tumourigenesis. Intriguingly, caspases, the proteases that normally execute apoptosis, have been implicated to play key roles in AiP through activation of their downstream growth signals. However, the underlying mechanism of AiP remains elusive. Systematic approaches are thus in need to dissect the regulatory network of AiP. By taking advantages of the developing Drosophila eye as an epithelium composed of both proliferating and differentiating tissues, our previous work has revealed that distinct mechanisms of AiP exist in tissues with different developmental potentials. In the proliferating tissue where cells are actively dividing, the initiator caspase (Caspase-9 like) coordinates apoptosis and AiP. While in the differentiating tissue where cells have exited the cell cycle, the effector caspases (Caspase-3 like) activate cell cycle re-entry. Built upon this finding, the goal of the proposed project is to obtain a comprehensive understanding of AiP. To achieve this, we have developed three sensitive and unique assays for analysis of AiP. By employing these assays together with proteomic approaches and systematic screens, we aim at (1) determining how caspases initiate AiP in apoptotic cells; (2) elucidating how Spitz/EGFR signalling, a growth signal that we identified mediating AiP, is activated; and (3) identifying and characterizing critical kinase regulators of AiP in both proliferating and differentiating tissues. Deciphering regulation of AiP in the proposed research will close gaps in our knowledge of AiP and may provide potential drug targets for regenerative medicine and cancer therapy.

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.

You need to log in or register to use this function

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-2013-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

THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM
EU contribution
€ 100 000,00
Address
Edgbaston
B15 2TT Birmingham
United Kingdom

See on map

Region
West Midlands (England) West Midlands Birmingham
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
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.

No data
My booklet 0 0