Project description
Synthetic malonyl-CoA derivatives as advanced mTORC1 inhibitors
The mTOR kinase regulates cellular physiology through the mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes. Dysregulation of mTORC1 is associated with diseases and ageing. Current mTOR inhibitors have limited efficacy and adverse effects, highlighting the need for better alternatives. Most mTORC1 targets are resistant to rapamycin, and catalytic inhibitors can increase toxicity. Recent research has identified malonyl-CoA as a novel and selective mTORC1 inhibitor that effectively blocks all mTORC1 target phosphorylation without affecting mTORC2 activity. The ERC-funded Inhibitor Project aims to develop synthetic malonyl-CoA derivatives as a new class of mTORC1 inhibitors with enhanced specificity and effectiveness. These inhibitors, which leverage biochemical, structural, and computational data, are expected to have significant scientific, clinical, and commercial applications due to mTORC1’s role in ageing and disease.
Objective
The mTOR (mammalian/mechanistic Target of Rapamycin) kinase, as part of the mTORC1 and mTORC2 protein complexes, is the master controller of cellular and organismal physiology. Dysregulation of mTORC1 activity is tightly linked to human disease and ageing. Consequently, mTOR inhibitors have been tested in various clinical settings, however with little success and limited applicability so far, mainly due to low efficacy or adverse effects, thus highlighting the need for more potent and more specific compounds. For instance, the phosphorylation of most mTORC1 targets is resistant to rapamycin and its analogs (rapalogs). Furthermore, catalytic mTOR inhibitors demonstrate increased toxicity and cause unwanted metabolic effects mainly because they also block mTORC2 activity. We have recently identified malonyl-CoA, a metabolic intermediate of fatty acid biosynthesis, as a novel specific mTORC1 inhibitor in cells that shows improved characteristics over existing compounds as it blocks phosphorylation of all mTORC1 targets without affecting the activity of mTORC2 or other related kinases. Using our biochemical, structural and computational data as the basis for targeted compound development, we aim to develop synthetic malonyl-CoA derivatives as a new class of mTORC1 inhibitors with improved specificity and effectiveness. Because of the well-established role of mTORC1 in ageing and disease, these inhibitors are expected to be of profound scientific, clinical, and commercial interest.
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 biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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.
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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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) ERC-2023-POC
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
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.