Objective
RNAs play crucial roles in cellular metabolic processes, e.g. ribozymes in RNA-processing or riboswitches in the regulation of protein expression. Metal ions thereby guide and determine folding and function of every complex nucleic acid structure. Recently, it has become increasingly evident that RNA folding and catalysis are extremely sensitive to changes in concentration and nature of the metal ion involved as well as to single-atom changes in metal ion complexes. The elucidation of the specific binding of certain metal ions and their complexes by nucleic acids poses an enormous challenge. This recognition process must depend solely on basic coordination chemical principles but is poorly understood. The goal of this project is to understand the effect of metal ions and their complexes on local and global structure formation of single large RNAs: Specifically, the influence of metal ions on the assembly of the catalytic core of group II intron ribozymes as well as the influence of single corrin side chains of coenzyme B12 to induce the structural change of its 202 nucleotide long riboswitch will be characterized. Combining classical Inorganic, Coordination, Analytical, and Organic Chemistry with Biophysics, we will apply single molecule Förster Resonance Energy Transfer spectroscopy (smFRET) together with hydrolytic cleavage experiments and chemical synthesis. SmFRET studies allow us to investigate every molecule individually instead of a bulk signal and thus to observe also minor populations. Our results will reveal how single metal ions and ligand atoms guide and influence global structure, folding, and function of ribozymes and riboswitches, and promise to have a significant impact on Biological Inorganic Chemistry, RNA Biochemistry, as well as Medicinal Chemistry.
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 nucleic acids
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics nucleotides
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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_20091028
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.