Project description
Novel X-ray methods could reveal hidden intermediates in protein crystallisation
Protein crystallisation, in use for more than 150 years, was used first for purification and demonstration of purity and then for 3D structural studies with the advent of X-ray crystallography in the 1960s and 1970s. Despite its long history and widespread use, producing high-quality crystals remains a challenge. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CRYSTAL-X project aims to experimentally investigate protein crystallisation pathways in numerous solutions, focusing on hidden intermediate metastable structures hypothesised to form. The team will study the anomalous crystallisation of ferritin solutions in microdroplets, characterise its time evolution and evaluate water’s role in protein-protein interactions with the help of powerful coherent X-rays.
Objective
Diffraction and serial crystallography serve as essential tools for comprehending the functions and dynamics of proteins. However, a significant limitation to their application lies in the consistent generation of protein crystals. Thus, it becomes imperative to explore novel avenues that can facilitate and regulate protein crystallization. Classical nucleation theory does not encompass the crystallization pathway for numerous protein solutions. This proposal seeks to offer fresh experimental insights into hidden intermediate metastable structures that are hypothesized to occur during the observed anomalous crystallization mechanism. Our objective is to explore in a non-equilibrium manner the anomalous crystallization of ferritin solutions in microdroplets and characterize its time evolution. The latter is going to be accessed via X-ray Photon Correlation Spectroscopy (XPCS), which will reveal the dynamic properties of both proteins and the amorphous phase that precedes crystal formation. Additionally, we aim to quantitatively assess the role of water in this system, pertaining to protein-protein interactions, hypothesized to depend on the water structuring in the vicinity of the interacting surface. Capturing the desolvation process is crucial for the understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the different crystallization pathways, since it has been hypothesized that the efficiency and directionality of the desolvation leads to a higher (‘classical’) or lower (‘nonclassical’) degree of protein ordering in the initial aggregates. The candidate has a strong background in experimental methods sensitive to protein dynamics and joins the host group which specializes in water experiments with microdroplets. The project utilizes the unique coherent properties of European large scale facilities, such as the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) and European X-ray Free Electron Laser (Eu-XFEL).
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 earth and related environmental sciences geology mineralogy crystallography
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy
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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)
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Topic(s)
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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.
Funding Scheme
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-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.
10691 Stockholm
Sweden
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