Project description
Genome non-coding regulatory sequences and evolution
One of the major challenges in the post-genomic era is understanding how enhancers, promoters, and other regulatory units work in vivo and how their variants influence phenotypes. The EU-funded GenRevo project will study the role of regulatory elements, using the evolutionary adaptation of wings of bats as a model system. With this approach the project aims at identifying and functionally dissecting the gene regulatory mechanisms that ultimately determine a species' phenotype. This includes the re-engineering bat genome regulatory sequences in mice and the identification of functional essential components that determine gene expression and phenotype. The possibility to re-engineer genome sequences in another species will advance the field of functional analysis of mammalian genomes, especially regarding the role of non-coding DNA in evolution and in the pathogenesis of diseases.
Objective
The regulation of genes is generally accepted to play a key role in shaping phenotypes. However, how regulatory sequence encodes complex morphological structures remains unsolved. This is due to our lack of understanding of how enhancers, promoters, and other regulatory components work together to control and fine-tune gene expression. As such, one of the major challenges of the post-genomic era is to uncover the sequence code that controls gene expression and, ultimately, the phenotype. In GenRevo, I propose to study the genomics of an extreme example of evolutionary adaption, the wings of bats, as a model system to identify and functionally dissect how sequence determines phenotype. Our approach involves the genetic re-engineering of bat regulatory sequence in mice and their functional dissection to identify the essential components that govern gene expression and phenotype.
Based on an already generated comprehensive data set from mouse and bat limb buds, we will detect, re-engineer and dissect intra- and interspecies differences in regulatory landscapes linked to batwing development. In particular, we will 1) determine what non-coding features are essential for maintenance and/or change in gene expression, 2) reconstitute bat-specific regulatory landscapes in mice by genome engineering synthetically produced large DNA sequences, 3) dissect how genomic changes translate into altered gene expression and phenotypes on cellular and regulatory level, and 4) create de novo designer regulatory landscapes that can be used as a testbed for experimental perturbations.
Collectively, GenRevo will produce ground-breaking knowledge in our understanding of how gene regulatory units work in vivo and how variants influence phenotypes. The possibility to re-engineer sequences in another species will spark a technological revolution in the functional analysis of mammalian genomes, particularly regarding the function of non-coding DNA in human diseases, traits, and evolution.
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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
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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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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) ERC-2021-ADG
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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.
80539 MUNCHEN
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.