Objective
Biological cells possess a chemical “sense of smell” and a physical “sense of touch”. Structure, dynamics, development, differentiation and even apoptosis of cells are guided by physical stimuli feeding into a regulatory network integrating biochemical and mechanical signals. Cells are equipped with both, force-generating structures, and stress sensors including force-sensitive structural proteins or mechanosensitive ion channels. Pathways from force sensing to structural and transcriptional controls are not yet understood.
The goal of the proposed interdisciplinary project is to quantitatively establish such pathways, connecting the statistical physics and the mechanics to the biochemistry. We will measure and model the complex non-equilibrium mechanical structures in cells, and we will study how external and cell-generated forces activate sensory processes that (i) act (back) on the morphology of the cell structures, and (ii) lead to cell-fate decisions, such as differentiation. The most prominent stress-bearing and -generating structures in cells are actin/myosin based, and the most prominent mechanoactive and -sensitive cell types are fibroblasts in connective tissue and myocytes in muscle. We will first focus on actin/myosin bundles in fibroblasts and in sarcomeres in developing heart muscle cells. We will observe cells under the influence of exactly controlled external stresses. Forces on suspended single cells or cell clusters will be exerted by laser trapping and sensitively detected by laser interferometry. We furthermore will monitor mechanically triggered transcriptional regulation by detecting mRNA in the nucleus of mouse stem cells differentiating to cardiomyocytes. We will develop fluorescent mRNA sensors that can be imaged in cells, based on near-IR fluorescent single-walled carbon nanotubes.
Understanding mechanical cell regulation has far-ranging relevance for fundamental cell biophysics, developmental biology and for human health.
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
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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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-ADG
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.
Host institution
37073 Gottingen
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.