Project description
Universal assay to study the saturation of cell membrane fatty acids
Living cells control the biophysical properties of their lipid membranes via membrane fluidity and fatty acid (FA) saturation. Our understanding of the regulation of membrane fluidity and the dynamic balance between unsaturated FAs and saturated FAs in the membrane is hampered by the lack of experimental methods to trace FA saturation at a tempo-spatial resolution in live cells. The EU-funded SENSOR project aims to enhance understanding of the regulation of FA metabolism via establishing a universal cellular system to follow membrane saturation in mammalian cells using an innovative fluorescent-based reporter. The researchers will identify the genetic traits that determine membrane saturation, applying state-of-the-art genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9-based assays.
Objective
All living cells must control the biophysical properties of their lipid membranes. Accordingly, dysregulation of the mechanisms underlying this process is associated with a wide range of human diseases, including amongst others metabolic disorders and cancer. In recent years, the role of fatty acid (FA) saturation in controlling membrane fluidity has gained great attention given the realization that the balance between unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in the membrane is dynamic, and can be regulated to meet cellular needs. Herein, the SREBP-1 and -2 transcription factors play a pivotal role owing to their ability to control the level of cholesterol and fatty acid saturation.
Our ability to understand the regulation of membrane fluidity and the intimate interaction between this property and SREBP regulation is hampered by the lack of experimental methods to faithfully follow FA saturation in a tempo-spatial resolution in live cells. To address this gap and to advance the field beyond the current state-of-the-art I therefore propose to combine my expertise in advanced functional genetic approaches with that of Prof. Zelcer in the molecular regulation of lipid metabolism, and specifically aim to:
1) Establish a universal and widely-applicable cellular system that reports on ER membrane saturation in mammalian cells through the use of an innovative fluorescent-based reporter.
2) Determine the genetic traits that govern ER membrane saturation in an unbiased manner with state-of-the-art genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9-based assays.
The proposed experiments will greatly enhance our understanding of the regulation of FA metabolism and will result in the generation of innovative and widely applicable experimental tools for in vitro and in vivo monitoring of membrane saturation. These studies may also inform on novel therapeutic strategies to treat lipid-associated disorders.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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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.
1105AZ Amsterdam
Netherlands
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.