Objective
Cadherin expression on the surface of cells is critical for cell-cell adhesion and, consequently, for the development and the integrity of solid tissues. In mammals, impaired cadherin mediated adhesion has been implicated in all steps of tumor progression. E-cadherin, a prominent member of the cadherin family, is expressed on the surface of epithelial cells in the digestive tract, in the lungs as well as in the testis and other organs and is therefore responsible for the integrity of the mucosal tissues that protect a vast surface of the inner body. Cell adhesion mediated by E-cadherin and other type I cadherins involves homophilic “trans” interactions that are brought about by a strand exchange mechanism involving the N-terminal extracellular domain. The epithelial tissue constitutes the body’s first line of defense and, as such, is exposed to a large number of small, potentially toxic molecules from the environment whose chemical and structural features are reminiscent of the tryptophan residue (Trp2) used by E-cadherin in its dimerization mechanism. These molecules can mimic the Trp2 function in E-cadherin by inserting into the hydrophobic acceptor pocket of E-cadherin and by occuping the site of Trp2 docking, thus potentially interfering with the E-cadherin mechanism of self-adhesion. We hypothesize that such events can disrupt the integrity of the epithelial tissue, ultimately causing tissue remodeling and the loss of the epithelium’s protective properties. The main aim of this project is to use X-ray crystallographic analysis to determine whether a number of known environmental pollutants that are present in the atmosphere as well as in foods or other media to which the population is commonly exposed can bind into or in the vicinity of the E-cadherin hydrophobic pocket or cause structural changes that prevent E-cadherin dimerization, thus causing disruption in the integrity of the body’s first line of defense.
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 cell biology
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy
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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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2010-RG
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
16163 GENOVA
Italy
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.