Objective
The central question of this proposal is: how are changes in cell state regulated at the transcriptomic and epigenetic level? I will tackle this question using an integrated computational and experimental approach with the T helper cell system as my model. The Th system consists of a naïve precursor cell type, and four main differentiated cell types that have some capacity to interconvert, known as plasticity. The experiments will be designed to measure both entire transcriptomes and single mRNAs by single molecule RNA-FISH.
(i) Quantifying genetic switches. On a genome-wide scale, what is the distribution of gene expression levels in the Th cell types? Do genes have two discrete expression levels (on and off) in terms of mRNAs per cell or a continuous distribution of expression levels? How do epigenetic marks correlate with expression levels? We will use genome-wide RNA-seq and epigenetic ChIP-seq experiments on homogeneous populations of cells coupled with new computational methods.
(ii) The molecular nature of the genetic switch. What is the hierarchy and kinetics of molecular events that drive gene expression changes during differentiation and plasticity? Using highly resolved timecourse experiments to profile individual cell generations, we will unravel the temporal order of regulation by transcription factors, microRNAs and epigenetic factors using RNA-seq and ChIP-seq experiments. We will integrate the data computationally to infer new regulatory interactions.
(iii) How genetic switches drive cell type switches. Which transcription factors directly regulate cytokines, the phenotypic readout of Th cells? Are the kinetics of these interactions graded or switch-like? What is the extent of stochastic cell-to-cell variation? We will validate predicted transcription factor-cytokine interactions and quantify levels of proteins and mRNA in single cells with fluorescence microscopy experiments, modelling this data probabilistically.
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 physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computational science
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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-2010-StG_20091118
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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
69117 Heidelberg
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.