Project description
Light, ‘camera’, action: snapshots of proteins in motion
Proteins are ubiquitous and their dynamic conformational changes underlie virtually limitless processes in cells. Taking 3D snapshots of these changes over time would enable essential insight into processes including enzyme catalysis, signal transduction and protein folding. However, proteins are flexible and delicate, making it difficult to study their structures. The ERC-funded FemtoPix project plans to make ultrafast imaging of hydrated single proteins a reality using X-ray free-electron laser technology. The team will develop diagnostics for nanosized samples, new sample delivery instrumentation to enable single protein X-ray diffraction imaging, and an approach for time-resolved single-protein imaging using the tender X-ray energy range. It will pave the way to recording molecular movies.
Objective
Conformational dynamics are crucial for the functioning of most macromolecules and a deeper understanding of these motions holds great promise for future discoveries in biology. But it is difficult to probe the structure of macromolecules away from their most stable conformations, and time-resolved studies remain limited by the available techniques.
Today a new generation of XFELs is growing. The extremely short pulse duration, high pulse intensity and repetition rate of these lasers offer new research opportunities in physics, chemistry, and biology.
Since the first XFELs were proposed, the idea of obtaining images of individual proteins frozen in time has fascinated and inspired many, and we have been at the forefront of this quest. The combination of advances in XFEL technology with ESI has brought the dream of imaging hydrated single proteins by X-ray diffraction within reach.
Currently time-resolved studies in solution in the sub-ms range are done through solution X-ray scattering or spectroscopic methods, but they can only provide limited structural information. XFELs provide a way to dramatically improve our understanding of these time-scales. This proposal aims to develop the science and technology to make ultrafast single-protein imaging a reality, through a three-step approach: (I) develop diagnostics suitable for nanosized samples, (II) enable single protein X-ray diffraction imaging through new sample delivery instrumentation, (III) perform time-resolved single protein imaging experiments using the unexplored tender X-ray energy range.
Ultrafast imaging of macromolecules will reveal new horizons. As a single-molecule method with high time-resolution, it enables imaging the structural changes associated with fundamental processes such as enzyme catalysis, allosteric signal transduction or even protein folding. It also opens a way to record molecular movies and mapping the conformational landscape of isolated macromolecules for the first time.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- humanities arts modern and contemporary art cinematography
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-2022-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
751 05 Uppsala
Sweden
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.