Project description
Advancing biomolecular charge measurement
Biological processes depend on electrostatic interactions from charges on biomolecules and membranes. However, understanding these interactions is limited by the lack of measurement methods capable of capturing dynamics at the nanometre scale and fast time frames. The ERC-funded MIETEN project aims to advance the measurement of electrical charges in biomolecules and membranes. It does so through a novel technology called Metal-Induced Energy Transfer-based Electrometry and Nanometry (MIETEN), which offers nanometre spatial and microsecond temporal resolution. This approach will be used to measure the charges and sizes of individual membrane proteins, examine structural changes, track conformational dynamics, and analyse interactions in response to membrane potential changes.
Objective
Almost all biological processes, involving molecular trafficking, signal-transduction, cell-to-cell interactions, hinge on precisely orchestrated electrostatic interactions, arising from electrical charges on biomolecules and membranes. Yet, our understanding of the role of electrostatics in these fundamental processes remains elusive due to the absence of quantitative methods to measure the electrical charges of biomolecules and to map the surface charge distribution of membranes. This challenge is further compounded by the requirement of capturing molecular and membrane dynamics that take place at the nanometre length scales and nano- to sub-millisecond time scales. The overall objective of this project is to bridge this technological gap by introducing Metal-Induced Energy Transfer based Electrometry and Nanometry (MIETEN), a groundbreaking technology that will quantify the electrical charge of biomolecules or membranes while capturing their dynamics with nanometre spatial and microsecond temporal resolutions. We will demonstrate MIETEN for measuring: (i) the charges and sizes of individual membrane proteins, (ii) membrane protein structural changes, conformational dynamics, and spatial organization in response to changes in membrane potential, (iii) reaction-diffusion kinetics at a charged membrane, (iv) mechanical properties and dynamics of membranes containing charged inclusions and (v) interactions between two charged membranes. The ability to measure biomolecular and membrane electrical charges and to elucidate the role of electrostatics in structure, organization, and interactions of proteins, as well as in membrane dynamics and intermembrane interactions, will be crucial for our understanding of fundamental biology and for advancing biomedical research. MIETEN will open new frontiers in studying protein and membrane dynamics and impact drug development, early diagnostics, and therapeutic interventions.
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.
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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.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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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
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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 - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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) ERC-2024-STG
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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.
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
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