Objective
Equal partition of the genetic material to the daughter cells in mitosis requires the accurate anchorage of the mother cell s chromosomes to spindle microtubules. This process takes place at kinetochores, complex scaffolds containing ~100 different proteins. Conceptually, kinetochores can be viewed as performing four distinct but highly integrated functions: 1) they bind centromeric chromatin at a specialized protein-DNA interface; 2) they build a dynamic microtubule-binding interface that is tightly linked to the centromere-binding interface; 3) they correct erroneous microtubule attachments; 4) they synchronize the progression of the cell cycle oscillator with the progression of the microtubule-kinetochore attachment process. In mammals, all four functions are essential, and their abrogation has untenable consequences for normal cell life. Conversely, their partial impairment has been implicated in chromosome instability and in the development of cancer and an array of genetic diseases. Our goal is to be able to map the kinetochore functions schematized above to the as yet largely uncharacterized architecture of the kinetochore and to unravel the elements of feedback control that allow their integration. By using a combination of structural and functional methods, we have made several recent important contributions to the field of kinetochore biology. In this application, we propose to take our efforts to a new level of complexity that will allow us to gain an integrated view of how kinetochores bind microtubules, how they correct improper attachment, and how they coordinate microtubule attachment with cell cycle progression. Our approach rests on strong experience in biochemical reconstitution and structural analysis, and is complemented by the introduction of methods to assess and model the dynamic responses of kinetochores to their variable environment.
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
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics chromosomes
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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-2008-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
80539 Munchen
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.