Objective
Genetic defects in proteins involved in the transduction of light in photoreceptor cells of the retina lead to severe retinal degenerations and blindness. Mutations that primarily affect rod function lead to retinitis pigmentosas. These diseases affect 1 in 4000 individuals, initially causing night blindness. As the gradual loss of rods eventually compromises cone cell viability, they lead to blindness. Mutations that affect cone function lead to cone dystrophies (CDs) or macular degenerations. There is no current cure for these diseases. The applicant will establish a lab in which the main interests will be: 1) study intracellular signaling in rod and cone photoreceptor cells in response to light, by combining mouse genetics with morphological, biochemical and electrophysiological analysis; and 2) use mouse models to study how genetic defects in these signaling pathways lead to retinal degeneration. In this frame, the first main aim of this proposal is to establish mouse models of the adCDs caused by mutations in the gene encoding Guanylate Cyclase Activating Protein 1 (GCAP1), a Ca2+-binding protein that regulates cGMP synthesis in rods and cones. By expressing mutant forms of the protein in murine rods, and subsequently in cones we will study the pathways leading to cell death in vivo. The second main aim is to study the mechanisms that govern arrestin intracellular localization in darkness and its massive redistribution in response to light. This is a defense mechanism of rod photoreceptors to adapt and to protect themselves to prolonged light exposures (e.g. during cone-operated vision), and its understanding will be relevant for the dark/light physiology or photoreceptor cells.
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 ophthalmology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-3-IRG
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.
Coordinator
08908 L'Hospitalet De Llobregat
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.