Objective
Spectrin domains R15, R16 and R17 are found in tandem arrays in proteins of the cytoskeleton, and spectrin itself is believed to be responsible for maintaining the shape of erythrocites by imparting elasticity to the cell membrane. These three domains share virtually identical structure, stability, contact order, helical propensity, and transition state structure. However, in spite of the striking structural resemblance and the apparently common function, these proteins fold to their native conformation with a speed that varies over more than three orders of magnitude. Why? There is some evidence to suggest that such diversity originates from energy landscape “roughness”. Slow folding domains (R16 and R17) appear to have rough energy landscapes, whereas the fast folding domain R15 has a smooth energy landscape. By means of a novel, single-molecule spectroscopic technique developed by Prof. Benjamin Schuler at the Department of Biochemistry of the University of Zurich, I want to test this hypothesis, investigating directly the energy landscape of these homologous spectrin domains, quantifying the roughness of their energy landscape, and discover its sequence determinants. This research is the first direct investigation of energy landscape roughness of proteins for which this feature is believed to clearly affect the folding rate. These studies could not only result in substantial conceptual progress in the field of protein folding, providing a missing link between theory and experiment, but also lead to further developments of the single-molecule spectroscopy for biophysical investigation in general
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: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins protein folding
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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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-IEF-2008
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
8006 ZURICH
Switzerland
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.