Objective
During my postdoctoral research, I would like to investigate the macromolecular organization of synapses and desmosomes, in brain and skin tissue respectively, by combining cryo-sectioning (CS) and cryo-electron tomography (CET). This novel combination of CS with CET is currently the only approach which should allow the three-dimensional (3D) visualization of the organization of untreated (i.e. unfixed, unstained) tissue at macromolecular resolution.
The 3D molecular architecture of the synaptic cleft will help to understand the synaptic transduction processes. Revealing the 3D macromolecular organisation of the desmosomes and their associated structures (e.g. intermediate filaments) will have a great impact on understanding the mechanism by which desmosomes differentiate, and help to understand desmosome-related diseases (e.g. Pemphigus). In order to accomplish these goals, I will expand my expertise in CS with training in CET and image processing to be able to identify and analyse macromolecules in a cellular context. Tomographic series of cryo-serial sections are going to be recorded in the electron microscope followed by computationally reconstructing several 3D tomograms. Subsequently, the tomograms, of these sections will be computationally assembled in to a large 3D image which will represent a significant portion of the cellular volume at app. 2 nm resolution.
In the resulting reconstructions, I hope to reveal the molecular architecture of the desmosomes and synapses and thus we should be able to fit hi gh-resolution structures of adhesion proteins obtained by e.g. X-ray crystallography (e.g. Cadherin proteins in the desmosomes; neural cell adhesion molecules in the synaptic cleft). Finally I look forward to have strong interactions in the interdiscriplinary environment of EMBL, where I will also be able to supervise students and have knowledge-transfer in mutual directions. This should allow me to pave the way for a future leading position in science.
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 earth and related environmental sciences geology mineralogy crystallography
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- natural sciences biological sciences developmental biology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron microscopy
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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)
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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.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-5
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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.
Coordinator
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.