Objective
Deposition of the amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) in the brain is critical to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Gamma-secretase is a key enzyme responsible for generating Abeta from its precursor protein.
Gamma-secretase has attracted a lot of attention recently because:
1) it is a highly unusual protease
2) it cleaves many important membrane proteins (Notch, cadherins) and regulates subsequent signalling and
3) the enzyme is considered to be a drug target in AD research. Gamma-secretase is the high molecular weight complex composed of at least four essential, integral membrane proteins including presenilin, Nicastrin, Aph-1 and Pen-2.
It is particularly important to study the structure-function relationship of gamma-secretase from biological, enzymatical and pathological perspectives. Direct analysis of the structure is difficult because handling such hydrophobic complex in cell and membrane free conditions is extremely problematic. In this project, we plan to take advantage of the camel antibody as a tool for the structural analysis of gamma-secretase. Camel antibodies consist of only heavy chains with highly stable variable regions.
The variable region fragment (called nanobody) can be easily expressed as a recombinant protein maintaining specificity and stability. We will immunize camel against the gamma-secretase compex, generate a phage display library of nanobodies, and then screen gamma-secretase binders/inhibitors. Analyses of the obtained inhibitors will provide information about the import ant domains of the gamma-secretase complex. The inhibitors can be applied in a multitude of applications. We will focus on the structural analysis of gamma-secretase, and on cell biological studies. Since these nanobodies can be engineered with modifications that allow them to cross the blood brain barrier, a longer term goal is to use the nanobodies as therapeutics to inhibit gamma-secretase in Alzheimer's Disease.
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 proteins proteomics
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics mathematical analysis functional analysis
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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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.
FP6-2004-MOBILITY-7
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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.
IIF - Marie Curie actions-Incoming International Fellowships
Coordinator
ZWIJNAARDE
Belgium
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.