Objective
While many neurons live for decades, the proteins that determine neural function have half-lives of hours to weeks. On the one hand, this allows for plastic changes during development and learning. On the other hand, this poses the question of how stable neural function can be achieved and maintained at all. Several neurological diseases, such as epilepsy or migraine, have been linked to uncontrolled neural function. However, the molecular mechanisms that stabilize nervous system function are poorly understood. The major site of regulation of neural activity is the chemical synapse. Synaptic function is tightly linked to the specific composition and abundance of proteins at synapses. However, the molecular pathways underlying the homeostatic control of protein levels at synapses, henceforth called synaptic proteostasis, are largely unknown.
The main objective of this proposal is to unravel the molecular signaling systems underlying synaptic proteostasis through local protein degradation, and its role in regulating a key step in synaptic transmission: neurotransmitter release. We propose to systematically analyze Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS)-dependent modulation of synaptic transmission in mutants of all major classes of synaptic genes, with a focus on homeostatic plasticity genes. This will be realized by employing a unique combination of forward genetics and electrophysiological analysis of synaptic transmission in Drosophila. Novel genetically-encoded probes will be used and developed to study synaptic transmission and protein degradation, and to acutely perturb protein function. Finally, this new information will be translated into the mammalian CNS by studying UPS-dependent modulation of release at a CNS synapse that allows for a detailed biophysical description of this phenomenon. Together, this approach should be ideally suited to dissect the molecular signaling systems underlying presynaptic proteostasis, and its role in neural physiology and pathology.
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 neurobiology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology epilepsy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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.
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.
ERC-STG - Starting Grant
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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.
(opens in new window) ERC-2015-STG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
8006 Zurich
Switzerland
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.