Project description
Transcription control of the DNA double-strand breaks pattern in meiosis
Meiosis is a reductional cell division of germ cells, creating gametes in sexually reproducing organisms. Meiosis errors result in an abnormal number of chromosomes, leading to a miscarriage or developmental disabilities. Multiple DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) at the particular chromatin sites induce the process, and the DSB pattern is suggested to be controlled by chromatin features established during transcription. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DIRECT-DSB project aims to use the unicellular Tetrahymena thermophila with two nuclei to investigate the impact of transcription on DSB patterning. The objective is to compare DSB patterns and chromatin features in the presence and absence of transcription and identify potential correlations in alterations of transcription-induced chromatin and the patterns.
Objective
Meiosis is a specialized cell division process for producing gametes, and meiotic defects frequently cause infertility or birth defects (e.g. Down syndrome). Successful meiosis is ensured by the induction of hundreds of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) at the correct chromatin sites. The pattern of DSBs is suggested to be controlled by some special chromatin features that are established upon transcription. However, as transcription is essential for life, it is difficult to directly study whether and how transcription influences DSB patterning during meiosis in common model organisms.
The unicellular protist Tetrahymena thermophila has two nuclei and, importantly, transcription can be shut off in the meiotic nucleus without affecting meiotic progression. Therefore, the DIRECT-DSB project was designed to overcome the intrinsic limitations of other model systems by investigating the impact of transcription on DSB patterning in Tetrahymena.
Through in-depth collaborations with the host supervisor, who has a profound knowledge of chromatin biology, and with other leading researchers with expertise in meiosis, I will first characterize and compare DSB patterns and chromatin features in the presence and absence of transcription and then study potential correlations between DSB pattern alterations and transcription-induced chromatin alterations. The successful accomplishment of the project will (i) clarify the relationship between transcription and DSB patterning, which has been a much-debated topic in the meiosis field for many years; (ii) deepen our understanding of meiosis, which, in the longer term, may contribute to solving the problem of increasing infertility rates in the European Union and elsewhere; (iii) enable knowledge exchange and dissemination, and the establishment of novel methods; and (iv) help me to develop into a leading independent scholar by improving my research proficiency and transferable skills.
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 genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics heredity
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine embryology
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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)
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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020
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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.
75794 Paris
France
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.