Objective
RNA interference (RNAi) mediates chromatin modifications in fungi, plants, drosophila and vertebrates. In the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, where the molecular mechanisms are the most detailed, it is believed that small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) guide the RNA-Induced Transcriptional Silencing (RITS) complex to specific chromatin regions to trigger formation of heterochromatin. Although it is clear that siRNAs are required for RITS localization to chromatin, important events of RITS siRNA-dependent recruitment remain to be elucidated. Additionally, critical aspects of the following RITS-driven heterochromatin formation mechanism need to be clarified. Genetic data indicate that among proteins required for assembly of heterochromatin some act very early in this process to the point that they should interact directly or indirectly with RITS. However, no physical connection between RITS and these enzymes has yet been found. This project proposes to address these fundamental aspects of RNAi-mediated heterochromatin assembly in S.pombe by coupling interdisciplinary and innovative approaches to classical protein affinity purifications, yeast molecular genetics and chromatin techniques. The first part of the project will concentrate on the characterization of an unprecedented physical connection between RITS and a chromatin-modifying activity. In parallel, we propose to develop two complementary approaches to identify new proteins that physically and/or genetically interact with RITS. Finally, thanks to a UV light-induced crosslinking technology, we intend to study RITS recruitment to chromatin by analyzing its direct interaction with nucleic acids both in vitro and in vivo. As the control of chromatin structure by RNAi is evolutionary conserved, our studies have the potential to bring general insights into how RNAi-based chromatin modifications take place and are regulated in the kingdom of eukaryotes.
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 molecular biology molecular genetics
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules nucleic acids
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics epigenetics
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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
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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
75654 Paris
France
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.