Project description
A charge-scaled force field model of ion-related biological processes
Biological systems rely on the flow of electrical charge for myriad signalling functions, often carried out by ions rather than electrons. Modelling these processes is a prerequisite to understanding them and harnessing the insight in therapies for ion-related pathologies. However, current models lack a description of an important effect of ions on the environment, namely electronic polarisation, which results in inaccuracies. Funded by the European Research Council, the Q-SCALING project will address this deficiency using machine learning techniques. The aim is to build a de novo comprehensive force field for biological systems that accounts for electronic polarisation in a mean-field way via charge scaling. The newly developed charge-scaled force field model will enable accurately addressing ion-specific processes from molecular to organ levels.
Objective
Electrical stimuli are essential for a plethora of biological functions. Unlike in electronics, where electrons form currents, nature rather exploits ions as charge carriers. Lack of a consistent molecular picture of action of ions impairs progress in fundamental understanding of ion-controlled biological processes and in designing smart strategies for fixing ion-related pathological conditions. Molecular simulations represent a powerful tool for modelling such processes, however, they can only be as good as is the underlying interaction model (force field). A major drawback of commonly used force fields is the lack of description of electronic polarization, which results in severe artifacts such as a dramatic over-binding of ions, preventing, e.g. accurate modelling of calcium signalling processes. This now well-recognized deficiency hampers faithful modelling of complex ion-involving biological processes.
We will employ machine learning techniques to build a de novo comprehensive force field for biological systems, that accounts for electronic polarization in a mean field way via charge scaling. This approach will qualitatively improve modelling of ions in biological contexts without additional computational costs. This will allow us to address accurately the following highly relevant ion-specific processes of increasing complexity from molecular over cellular to organ levels:
1. Dissolution of radical anions of aromatic molecules as key intermediates in technologically and biologically important non-enzymatic and enzymatic Birch reduction processes.
2. Direct membrane translocation of cationic cell penetrating peptides with a potential of drug delivery.
3. Circulation of calcium ions as signalling charge carriers through ion channels of hair cells in the cochlea.
At the same time, the newly developed charge scaled force field will be made freely available to the community for further development and ready to be used within major simulation program packages.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology cell signaling
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computational science multiphysics
- natural sciences computer and information sciences artificial intelligence machine learning
- natural sciences computer and information sciences software software applications simulation software
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)
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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.
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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.
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) ERC-2022-ADG
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16610 Praha 6
Czechia
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