Objective
Cell adhesions play an important role in the organization, growth, maturation, and function of living cells. Interaction of cells with the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an essential role in a variety of disease states , inflammation, and repair of damaged tissues. At the cellular level, many of the biological responses to external stimuli originate at adhesion loci, such as focal adhesions (FA), which link cells to the ECM . Cell adhesion is mediated by receptor proteins such as cadherins and integrins. The precise molecular composition, dynamics and signalling activity of these adhesion assemblies determine the specificity of adhesion-induced signals and their effects on the cell. However, characterization of the molecular architecture of FAs is highly challenging, and it thus remains unclear how these molecules function together, how they are recruited to the adhesion site, how they are turned over, and how they function in vivo. In this project, I aim to conduct an interdisciplinary study that will provide a quantum step forward in the understanding of the functional organization of FAs. We will analyze, for the first time, the three-dimensional structure of FAs in wild-type cells and in cells deficient in the specific proteins involved in the cell-adhesion machinery. We will study the effect of specific geometries on the functional architecture of focal adhesions in 3D. A combination of state-of-the-art technologies, such cryo-electron tomography of intact cells, gold cluster chemistry for in situ labeling, and modulation of the underlying matrix using micro- and nano-patterned adhesive surfaces, together with correlative light, atomic force and electron microscopy, will provide a hybrid approach for dissecting out the complex process of cell adhesion.In summary, this project addresses the properties of FAs across a wide range of complexities and dimensions, from macroscopic cellular phenomena to the physical nature of these molecular assemblies
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
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron microscopy
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics geometry
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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-2009-StG
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
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.