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Investigating the TORC1 signaling pathway in the moss Physcomitrella and its application for enhanced production of valuable pharmaceutical compounds

Projektbeschreibung

Der Signalweg vom TOR-Komplex-1 und seine Anwendung in der moosbasierten Biotechnologie

Der Signalweg des Zielkomplexes 1 von Rapamycin (TOR-Komplex-1) wird in eukaryotischen Zellen geschützt und ist an der Regulierung des Zellwachstums und Stoffwechsels beteiligt. Finanziert über die Marie-Skłodowska-Curie-Maßnahmen zielt das Projekt MossTOR darauf ab, den Signalweg des TOR-Komplex-1 bei der frühen Entwicklung von Protonemazellen des Modellorganismus, dem Moos Physcomitrella patens, zu charakterisieren. So soll getestet werden, ob die Modulierung des Signalwegs des TOR-Komplex-1 Anwendungen der moosbasierten Biotechnologie verbessern können. Die Entwicklung von transgenen Linien der Physcomitrella patens mit hyperaktiver Signalgebung des TOR-Komplex-1 wird Prüfung der Produktion von menschlichen rekombinanten Komplement-Proteinen oder des Wirkstoffs Artemisinin, der bei der Malariabehandlung eingesetzt wird, ermöglichen.

Ziel

The Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 (TORC1) signaling pathway, involved in the coordination of cell growth and metabolism, is highly conserved among eukaryotes, including seed plants and algae. Studies have shown that its activity could be tuned to enhance plant growth, yield and resistance to stress, or accumulation of triacylglycerol in algae, thus indicating that its power could be harnessed to improve diverse plant biotechnological applications. In this project, I aim to characterize the TORC1 pathway for the first time in the moss Physcomitrella (Physcomitrium patens), a model organism of non-seed plants, using protonema cells as a study system. This is linked to another important goal, to test whether the activity of TORC1 can be modulated in order to improve moss-based biotechnological applications. Besides the identification of a functional TORC1 in Physcomitrella, I will develop transgenic lines with hyperactive TORC1 signaling, phenotypically and metabolically analyzing them, and in collaboration with Mosspiration Biotech, test if these lines could produce more human recombinant complement proteins or the drug artemisinin, used to treat patients with complement disorders or malaria, respectively. Enhancing this yield will result in a stable, sustainable and eco-friendly production platform. It would also lead to a reduced price, for instance of artemisinin-based treatments, thus allowing poor communities most affected by malaria to contain the disease. Should this project be successful, it will open the door to improve the yield of diverse well-established products from Physcomitrella, valuable metabolites, active pharmaceutical ingredients and biopharmaceutical proteins.

Koordinator

ALBERT-LUDWIGS-UNIVERSITAET FREIBURG
Netto-EU-Beitrag
€ 237 109,20
Adresse
FAHNENBERGPLATZ
79098 Freiburg
Deutschland

Auf der Karte ansehen

Region
Baden-Württemberg Freiburg Freiburg im Breisgau, Stadtkreis
Aktivitätstyp
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Gesamtkosten
Keine Daten

Partner (2)