Objective
Besides its function as a passive cell wall plasma membrane (PM), involved in signal transduction and cell adhesion, is essential to enable the formation of tissues. Understanding PM function requires molecular insights into its dynamic spatial organization. Recent studies show that membrane proteins rearrange laterally forming nanoclusters of various size. On the other hand, a hierarchical model of two dimensional PM organization has been proposed including transient confinement in membrane-actin-skeleton induced compartments and lipid rafts. However, an overall picture of the dynamic spatial organization of the PM requires the inclusion of protein trafficking since membrane proteins undergo a constitutive turnover transported in vesicles as cargo from and to the cytosol.
The hypothesis of this project is that vesicle trafficking to and from the PM is responsible for the observation of nanoclusters in the PM. Due to the diffraction barrier it is impossible to image nanoclusters with conventional fluorescence microscopy. To avoid this limitation, I will use super-resolution fluorescence imaging methods such as direct Stochastic Optical Reconstruction Microscopy (dSTORM) and Photoactivated Localization Microscopy (PALM) combined with novel statistical cluster analysis to study quantitatively the dynamic reorganization of PM induced by protein trafficking, as well as the role played by actin-skeleton-induced compartments and lipid rafts during this process. I will apply this approach to study a wide family of membrane proteins involved in signal transduction and cell adhesion essential for embryogenesis, neurogenesis, and immune response. The outcome of the project is expected to provide fundamental new insights into PM architecture and organization including protein turnover. Since membrane proteins are one of the most attractive drug targets because they control the communication of cells with their environment, the results will be of high medical significance.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- natural sciences biological sciences developmental biology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
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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-2013-IEF
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.
Coordinator
97070 Wuerzburg
Germany
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.