Project description
Role of branched heterotypic ubiquitination in cellular stress responses
Ubiquitination is an enzymatic post-translational modification whereby ubiquitin, a small regulatory protein, attaches to a substrate protein. This process, involving monoubiquitin or polyubiquitin chains, signals distinct responses, involving every aspect of eukaryotic biology. Recent data show that ubiquitin can form branched heterotypic chains. The EU-funded StressHUb project aims to define branched ubiquitination as a unique signalling mechanism to enable cellular stress responses. The researchers will develop novel tools and methods, combining quantitative proteomics, single-cell analyses, biochemistry and structural biology to identify the molecular players involved in branched ubiquitination. The final objective is the functional characterisation of branched heterotypic ubiquitination signalling in response to stress.
Objective
Posttranslational modification of proteins with monoubiquitin or different polyubiquitin chains alter protein function to signal distinct responses in cells and thereby regulate every aspect of eukaryotic biology. Recently, ubiquitin has also been reported to form branched heterotypic chains. The central premise of this proposal is that branched ubiquitin chains adopt unique conformations and convey distinct intracellular signals essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis. We posit that branching of homotypic ubiquitin chains or de novo formation of branched structures occurs in response to specific cues and they serve as priority signals to mediate prompt cellular responses. The complex nature of branched heterotypic ubiquitin, the lack of tools to specifically and efficiently probe different branched ubiquitin structures and the relatively low abundance of these chains in a cell make it challenging to study them. In this proposal, I will describe an ambitious approach to define how branched ubiquitin serve as unique signals to elicit cellular stress responses. To attain these goals, we will pioneer the development of novel designer tools and methods, which we will combine with quantitative proteomics, single cell analyses, biochemistry and structural biology. We will elucidate the molecular players involved in the assembly, decoding and regulation of branched ubiquitin. We will develop approaches to monitor branched ubiquitin formation in cells to identify stress conditions that trigger formation of branched ubiquitin chains. We will functionally characterize how distinct branched heterotypic ubiquitin signals are formed in response to stress and serve as priority signals to trigger stress-response pathways. Our work will shed light on fundamental principles of intracellular signalling and mechanisms that maintain cellular homeostasis.
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 physiology homeostasis
You need to log in or register to use this function
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)
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
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.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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.
(opens in new window) ERC-2020-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
DD1 4HN Dundee
United Kingdom
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.