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CORDIS

Novel Integrated Approach for Assembly Analysis of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins at High Resolution

Descrizione del progetto

Un’analisi ad alta risoluzione dell’aggregazione proteica

In situazioni patologiche le proteine possono ripiegarsi in modo errato, formando aggregati che interrompono le funzioni cellulari e provocano l’insorgere di malattie. L’aggregazione dell’alfa-sinucleina (αSyn) è un segno distintivo della malattia di Parkinson e la sua deposizione nei corpi di Lewy porta alla disfunzione neuronale. Secondo le prove emergenti, αSyn subisce una separazione di fase liquido-liquido, un processo reversibile in cui la soluzione proteica si separa in fasi dense e diluite; concentrazioni elevate nella fase densa promuovono l’aggregazione di αSyn in fibrille amiloidi. Con il sostegno del programma di azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie, il progetto IDP Assembly si propone di sviluppare un metodo innovativo per l’analisi ad alta risoluzione dell’aggregazione di αSyn, aprendo la strada allo sviluppo di nuovi interventi.

Obiettivo

Protein aggregation hallmarks several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. In Parkinson's, aggregation of the intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) alpha-synuclein (Syn) leads to its intracellular deposition into Lewy bodies, which causes neuronal dysfunction. Recently it was discovered that Syn can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), whereby a protein solution spontaneously separates into a dense and a dilute phase. This process is initially reversible, but the high concentrations of the dense phase strongly favor the aggregation of Syn into amyloid fibrils. Structural characterization of the transient Syn conformations during LLPS and amyloid formation is therefore crucial for understanding the disease pathology on the molecular level. This project aims to develop a novel experimental concept for the high-resolution conformational analysis of Syn assembly and aggregation using scanning mutagenesis combined with cutting-edge high-throughput biophysical techniques and computational analysis. The core idea is to apply multiple biophysical assays to quantify the effects of hundreds of Syn mutations on the kinetics and thermodynamics of LLPS and amyloid formation. The resulting multidimensional experimental datasets will be processed within the phi-value analysis framework originally derived for protein folding and combined with molecular dynamics simulations. The integrated methodology will allow gaining important structural and mechanistic insights into the early-aggregation events of Syn at a single amino acid level of resolution. The project includes extensive training to enhance my scientific skills in modern experimental and computational methods. The proposed strategy is widely applicable to other IDP systems that can undergo LLPS and aggregation and paves the way for the design of rational and precisely tailored intervention strategies against the diseases associated with these phenomena.

Campo scientifico (EuroSciVoc)

Parole chiave

Programma(i)

Argomento(i)

Meccanismo di finanziamento

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

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Invito a presentare proposte

(si apre in una nuova finestra) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01

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Coordinatore

DANMARKS TEKNISKE UNIVERSITET
Contributo netto dell'UE
€ 214 934,40
Indirizzo
ANKER ENGELUNDS VEJ 101
2800 Kongens Lyngby
Danimarca
Regione
Danmark Hovedstaden Københavns omegn
Tipo di attività
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Collegamenti
Costo totale
Nessun dato