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Biophysical investigation of the liquid-liquid phase separation solvent interface.

Project description

Characterising interactions at the liquid-liquid phase separation interface

Through a combination of multivalent specific interactions and non-specific electrostatics-driven interactions, a set of biomolecules can concentrate in a membraneless condensate in vitro as well as in vivo. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is involved in important biological processes such as the regulation of transcription, DNA repair and signaling. Yet, the way a molecule is being recruited to the dense phase, and more specifically the nature of the interface between the phases remains elusive. With the support of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme, the BiophInLLPSInt project will use state-of-the-art biophysical techniques (High-Resolution-Relaxometry, FRET spectroscopy and STORM microscopy) to dissect this interface at multiple timescales in order to understand at the atomic scale how these mesoscopic condensates recruit their components.

Objective

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is central to compartmentalisation of biochemical processes and allows co-localisation of a whole biological machine and its substrates at high local concentrations. This often dynamic and reversible assembly is formed by multivalent interactions between several biomolecules, and some instances involve low complexity sequences that have been linked to amyloid fibre formation. While the biophysical understanding of this phenomenon has recently been of high interest in the scientific community, the interactions of LLPS-forming proteins from the dilute phase with the interface to the condensed phase remain elusive. In this project we aim to dissect these transient interactions using state-of-the-art biophysical techniques. More specifically, we will use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high-resolution-relaxometry (HRR) and an array of single-molecule fluorescence techniques to dissect up to atomic resolution and at multiple time-scales the transient interactions of the dilute phase proteins with the interface of the condensed state. We shall rely on the non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) system, that our laboratory has recently shown to exhibit LLPS in a broad range of conditions. Atomic-level dynamic information on the mechanisms for NHEJ phase separation and assembly could prove crucial both in the fundamental understanding of LLPS formation and growth, and in rational drug design aimed at preventing double-strand break repair by NHEJ in the frame of cancer treatment.

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HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01

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Coordinator

ECOLE NORMALE SUPERIEURE
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 195 914,88
Address
45, RUE D'ULM
75230 Paris
France

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Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

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