Objective
Riboswitches are mRNA-based gene-regulatory elements triggered by direct interactions with small molecular ligands. They are exciting targets for novel antibiotic strategies. Many putative riboswitches have been identified using bioinformatics. However, ligand identification is getting more complicated since many motifs are not expected to be involved in simple feedback regulation mechanisms. For such “classical” riboswitches ligands have been assigned in the past based on testing metabolites selected by educated guesses guided by the associated gene contexts. We are convinced that this approach limits the identification of riboswitches that play regulatory roles in more complex bacterial processes such as virulence, detoxification, communication, and life style adaptations. Within this project, new riboswitch classes will be identified and characterized, paving the way for the development of antibiotics with novel modes of action.
We will establish a systematic, robust and unbiased approach for identifying intracellular RNA ligands by fishing small molecules from lysates as well as screening fractionated cellular extracts. The methodology shows great potential for assigning novel riboswitch classes since in preliminary experiments we have successfully isolated a small molecular activity that specifically triggers the ykkC orphan riboswitch motif. A range of analytical and preparative methods will be applied in order to identify the nature of this and further activities. By synthesizing ligands and derivatives thereof we will scout the antibiotic potential of novel riboswitch ligands. The proposed research is highly relevant for one of the major biomedical challenges of the coming decades: Since riboswitches are effective antibacterial targets, the identification of novel riboswitch / ligand interactions has immediate implications for establishing future antibiotic strategies necessary to keep in check the progressing problem of bacterial drug resistance.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug resistance
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
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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)
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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-COG - Consolidator Grant
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2015-CoG
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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.
78464 Konstanz
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.