Objective
Spectrins are an integral part of the submembranous cytoskeleton providing both mechanical scaffolding and organization hub for other proteins in metazoan cells. The importance of spectrins to neuronal health is demonstrated by their association with a wide range of human neurological disorders (spectrinopathies). Currently, more than forty mutations in the gene encoding non-erythroid -spectrin (SPTAN1) are associated with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, hereditary motor neuropathy (HMN), spastic paraplegia (HSP), and ataxia. The underlying pathomechanisms remain largely unknown. In Drosophila, the highly conserved -spec homolog similarly plays an important role in the nervous system development, as well as in synapse formation, its function and maintenance. Interestingly, synaptic defects associated with loss of -spec can be suppressed via neuronal mitochondria repositioning. Conversely, increased levels of -spec rescue a range of neuronal phenotypes linked to actin-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction in an -synuclein neurodegeneration Drosophila model. These findings suggest that modulating the levels of -spec in neurons might have an important and understudied impact on tuning mitochondrial dynamics and preserving neuronal health. Thus, the goal of my MSCA proposal is to deepen our knowledge on how neuronal actin and spectrin cytoskeleton regulate mitochondria and assess mitochondrial dysfunction at the basis of -spectrinopathies, with a combined use of Drosophila as a model organism, and human iPSC-derived neurons as a platform to translate the findings to human neuronal health and disease. My project will provide insights on whether spectrin-associated mitochondrial dysfunction is a shared or specific feature for HMN, HSP and ataxia-associated spectrin mutants. I will deploy these findings to tailor a pharmacological treatment in the -spectrinopathy neuronal cellular models and develop a therapeutic strategy.
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 neurobiology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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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.
2000 Antwerpen
Belgium
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.