Project description
Molecular insight into endocytosis
Cells receive substances from their environment through a process known as endocytosis, which transports the desired cargo to vesicles within cells. Endocytosis is also responsible for the recycling of cell surface receptors and adhesion molecules. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ModulEndoA3 project focuses on endophilin-A3 and the mechanism by which it is implicated in the process of endocytosis. The objective is to identify cellular regulators and small molecule inhibitors of endophilin A3-mediated endocytosis. By studying the effects of these modulators on cancer cell properties and viral entry, this research could advance fundamental knowledge and lead to innovative antiviral and anti-cancer therapeutics.
Objective
In addition to classical clathrin-mediated endocytosis, mammalian cells have clathrin-independent endocytic (CIE) mechanisms. Among others, the BAR domain proteins, that sense and induce membrane curvature, are key players in CIE. In particular, the BAR domain protein endophilin-A3 (endoA3) drives CIE of the cell adhesion molecules CD166, L1CAM, and DICAM, with implications in tumour progression and viral infection. The regulation, mechanism, and functional implications of this recently-identified endoA3-mediated CIE route remain poorly characterized. In this context, I propose an interdisciplinary project combining cell biology, chemical biology, and virology approaches to substantially advance our understanding of endoA3-mediated CIE. The first research goal is to identify cellular regulators (kinases, phosphoinositides) that modulate endoA3-mediated endocytosis. In parallel, this project aims at identifying small molecule inhibitors that selectively inhibit the endocytic functions of endoA3. Subsequently, the cellular regulators and pharmacological inhibitors identified in this project will be used in cells, to modulate endoA3-mediated endocytosis and study the impact on cellular functions. Emphasis will be put on cancer cell properties and endocytic viral particle entry. Together, this project will generate high-quality fundamental knowledge on the mechanism and function of endoA3-mediated CIE. Moreover, the identification of modulators of endoA3 endocytic functions will provide valuable biological tools for the study of this recently-identified CIE route in physiology and pathology. Lastly, the identification of selective pharmacological inhibitors may pave the way towards the development of innovative antiviral and anti-cancer therapeutics targeted at unconventional endocytosis. This fellowship will be conducted in the laboratory of Prof. Henri-Francois Renard (UNamur, Belgium), who has been a pioneer in the identification of BAR-mediated endocytic routes.
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 microbiology virology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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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-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.
5000 NAMUR
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.