Objective
Optical switches are photoisomerizable compounds that allow to remotely controlling the activity of proteins, cells and entire organisms with light. These tools are revolutionizing research in biology with their high selectivity and spatiotemporal resolution. Here we propose to develop and apply optical switches to investigate the fundamental processes of secretion, exocytosis and endocytosis, in a way that is non-invasive, acute, and orthogonal to pharmacological and electrophysiological techniques. The optical control of exocytosis will be carried out by means of photoswitchable, Ca2+-permeable channels (LiGluR and Channelrhodopsin-2) which allow triggering vesicle fusion at single synaptic terminals. This procedure will allow studying vesicle release kinetics and the differences between synapses of the same neuron. The photocontrol of endocytosis will be carried out with: (1) inhibitory peptides of the clathrin pathway modified with an azobenzene crosslinker in order to photomodulate their structure and affinity, and (2) photoswitchable synthetic compounds based on chemical inhibitors of dynamin. Photomodulation of endocytosis in chromaffin cells and neurons will allow interfering with the internalisation of membrane receptors with an unprecedented spatial and temporal control. The use of photoswitchable inhibitors of endocytosis would allow for the first time to manipulate reversibly and with subcellular resolution, the vesicular trafficking of the endocytic pathway. In addition, these photoswitches could reveal how endocytosis regulates spatially receptor activation, controlling cell patterning and cell fate.
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.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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-2007-StG
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
08028 Barcelona
Spain
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.