Project description
Unravelling myelin structure
Myelin forms a protective sheath around nerve fibres in the central and peripheral nervous systems, facilitating the rapid transmission of electrical signals between neurons. This insulation supports the overall health and functionality of neurons. Damage to myelin is seen in conditions such as multiple sclerosis and is associated with neurological symptoms. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MyeMembrane project focuses on the proteins involved in the process of myelin sheath formation. The main goal is to obtain structural insights into myelin assembly by visualising CNS myelin proteins and to delineate their interactions with the surrounding membranes. Project results have the potential to advance treatments for myelin-related disorders.
Objective
Myelin plays a critical role in rapid action potential propagation and support of neuronal metabolism. Disruptions of its formation lead to severe neurodegenerative conditions, with multiple sclerosis (MS) ranking as the most prevalent demyelination disorder in the central nervous system (CNS). The Multiple Sclerosis International Federation estimates that around 2.9 million individuals worldwide are affected by MS in 2023, and its prevalence is increasing yearly. It is well established that myelin-specific membrane-embedded and membrane-associated proteins are essential for wrapping the oligodendrocyte membrane around the axons, forming the tightly packed membrane multilayers, constituting the myelin sheath. While the molecular identity of these proteins is known, there is no high-resolution structural information for any of the full-length CNS myelin proteins, and it is unknown how these proteins interact among themselves and with the surrounding membrane to form the myelin sheath. MyeMembrane seeks to throw structural insight on the myelin sheath assembly by visualizing principal CNS myelin membrane proteins in a lipid environment at high resolution, and to investigate the interplay between myelin proteins and the surrounding membrane using cutting-edge biophysical techniques. Unravelling the structural basis of myelin sheath formation is crucial for understanding myelin disorders, and for exploring new research avenues including the development of new treatments, endowing MyeMembrane with far-reaching scientific and societal impact.
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.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
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Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European FellowshipsCoordinator
5020 Bergen
Norway