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Influence of oxidants on cell fate determination by use of a GFP coupled redox sensor

Objective

Reactive oxygen species are derivatives of aerobic metabolism. Their production is finely regulated to protect cells against severe and permanent damage to cellular components that could ultimately lead to programmed cell death. However at low levels, ROS act as second messagers in several signalling pathways leading to growth, differentiation, senescence or cell death. This dual function of ROS appears to be due to differences in their concentrations, their sub-cellular localization and the pulse-duration. Using a newly developed fluorescent redox biosensor that allows dynamic live imaging of the intracellular glutathione redox state, I will study the role of endogenous oxidants in cell fate decision at the G1 checkpoint. I will follow the intracellular redox state of 3 primary cell types as they grow in culture, respond to mitogenic stimuli or differentiation factors and undergo senescence. Oxygen sensitivity of these processes will be also evaluated by modifying the oxygen culture conditions. Murine adult neural stem cells will serve as a model to study the balance between self-renewal and differentiation while mouse embryonic fibroblasts and human adult skin fibroblasts will be studied in terms of proliferative capacity versus senescence induction. Furthermore, we plan to generate transgenic mice constitutively expressing the redox sensor. This will allow us to compare endogenous redox levels in different tissues, over time and under pathological conditions.

Call for proposal

FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF
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Coordinator

DEUTSCHES KREBSFORSCHUNGSZENTRUM HEIDELBERG
EU contribution
€ 158 694,85
Address
IM NEUENHEIMER FELD 280
69120 Heidelberg
Germany

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Region
Baden-Württemberg Karlsruhe Heidelberg, Stadtkreis
Activity type
Research Organisations
Administrative Contact
Bettina Crispin (Ms.)
Links
Total cost
No data