Objective
KIT, a receptor tyrosine kinase, is dimerized at the cell surface by the cytokine stem cell factor (SCF) to initiate signalling pathways securing fundamental cellular processes, including hematopoiesis, gametogenesis, and melanogenesis. Impaired signalling due to KIT mutations or deficiency leads to various malignancies such as leukemia and melanoma. However, recent data have shown that KIT can also initiate signalling by binding meteorin-like protein (METRNL), triggering unrelated stimulation of heart tissue regeneration. Ischemic heart diseases are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with approximately 9 million annual deaths and over 180 million disability-adjusted life years lost. Therefore, revealing the molecular principles and mechanism of this completely new function of KIT gives hope for new opportunities towards novel therapies that might maximize the efficiency of heart recovery after heart disease incidence. However, the field is currently plagued by a paucity of mechanistic details and the structure-function relationship of the KIT.METRNL complex assembly. The goal of this project is to derive the structure-function landscape of the novel interaction between KIT and METRNL and to provide a blueprint for how KIT can be activated by two structurally distinct protein ligands. The gained knowledge will govern the rational engineering of METRNL towards improving its interaction with KIT to elicit intensified signalling that can lead to amplified heart tissue regeneration. This aim will be achieved by synergistically combining methods of molecular and structural biology (supervisor’s expertise), biomolecular kinetics and rational protein engineering (researcher’s experience), and single molecule biophysics (secondment). Collectively, this research endeavour will impact basic and applied cardiovascular disease research and promises to provide new possibilities for alleviating the enormous socioeconomic burden associated with these diseases.
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.
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology skin cancer melanoma
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology leukemia
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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
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.
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 callCoordinator
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.
9052 ZWIJNAARDE - GENT
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.