Objective
The endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) is a multi-protein complex, which facilitates many processes in biological cells. In particular, it is central to trafficking of membrane proteins and budding of certain enveloped viruses such as HIV. Recent experimental data show that certain ESCRT proteins that associate with lipid membranes assemble into polymer-like structures. These protein aggregates, or polymers, act to buckle the membrane locally and, in this way, drive the formation of vesicles. However, the mechanism how they do that remains very much unclear. The objective of our project is to explore theoretical models, which could shed light on this important and complicated process. To start the project, we are going to combine continuum and molecular models for lipid membranes and calculate the energy required for membrane budding and vesicle formation. The later energy should be next compared with the energy of binding of the ESCRT proteins to the lipid membranes. The binding energy can be estimated from the detailed structure analysis of ESCRT components. Comparison of the two energy scales should rule out some of the possible mechanisms of vesicle formation driven by ESCRT. In next stages of the project we want to study the energetically possible processes of vesicle formation by simulating the ESCRT components that act to deform the lipid membranes. Since the ESCRT protein aggregates are of a mesoscopic size, their activity and interactions with the membranes will require multi-scale analysis and leave room form methods development. As the ESCRT still is not a well-studied complex, and a lot of new experimental data on its structure and functions are coming out currently, we believe that the outcome of our project will substantially contribute to the understanding of this 'molecular machinery'.
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 microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- medical and health sciences health sciences infectious diseases RNA viruses HIV
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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-IOF-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
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.