Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Conserved and divergent mechanisms underlying cytokinesis in early vertebrate and invertebrate embryogenesis

Project description

Key insights into early embryogenesis

Following embryo fertilisation, a number of embryonic cell divisions take place during early embryogenesis that facilitate cell differentiation and overall body plan formation. Holoblastic division, seen in mammals like mice, involves complete cleavage of the embryo with actin-myosin filaments forming a contractile ring. In contrast, meroblastic division, which is observed in fish and insects such as zebrafish and Drosophila, involves partial cleavage with actin-myosin filaments exhibiting a less critical role. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the MiMING project aims to investigate the role of microtubules and motor proteins in meroblastic furrow ingression in zebrafish and Drosophila. Project findings will shed light onto the fundamental processes of early development.

Objective

Cell division is the fundamental process for cell differentiation and tissue formation in early embryogenesis. Mainly depending on the distribution and amount of yolk, fertilized embryos undergo holoblastic and meroblastic divisions. Holoblastic division can be found in most mammalian embryos including mouse embryo, in which actomyosin forms contractile cytoskeletal ring and divides the zygote into two daughter cells. In contrast, cell division in fish and insect embryos, such as zebrafish and Drosophila embryos, are meroblastic, and accumulating evidence shows that actomyosin is dispensable for meroblastic furrow ingression. Meanwhile, microtubule has been suggested to constitute the main component that drive meroblastic furrow ingression.
How microtubule functions in furrow ingression of meroblastic cleavages in zebrafish and Drosophila embryos, and how far those functions are conserved between these species, remain to be fully understood. The MiMING project aims to uncover the role of microtubule and associated motor proteins in meroblastic furrow ingression in zebrafish and Drosophila, which fits me very well, as I have abundant knowledge about functions of cytoskeleton in embryogenesis and biochemical experimental methods in checking the function of actomyosin and microtubules on the cortex of Drosophila embryos in syncytial and cellularization stages from my PhD study and follow-up work. To check the biochemical and biomechanical mechanisms in meroblastic furrow ingression of zebrafish and Drosophila embryos, I would like to join Prof. Carl-Philipp Heisenberg lab at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA). Prof. Heisenberg is a world-renowned developmental biologist (high citation publications > 80, total citations > 26670), who has pioneered interdisciplinary work at the interphase between developmental biology, cell biology and biophysics using both zebrafish and ascidian embryos as model organisms.

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.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

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.

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.

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.

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

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AUSTRIA
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 199 440,96
Address
Am Campus 1
3400 KLOSTERNEUBURG
Austria

See on map

Region
Ostösterreich Niederösterreich Wiener Umland/Nordteil
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

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.

No data
My booklet 0 0