Project description
Membrane-condensate interactions and dynamics in synthetic cells
Synthetic cells are artificially designed and constructed to mimic and understand the structure and function of biological cells. Multiple approaches are used to recreate cellular characteristics including compartmentalisation, metabolism, and responsiveness to stimuli. Synthetic cells hold great promise as tools for further insight in fundamental biological processes. With the support of the Marie Sktodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ComelnCell project will employ synthetic vesicles to study how membranes interact with biomolecular condensates: membrane-less organelles formed through liquid-liquid phase separation. Researchers will explore the role of these interactions in key cellular processes such as transport, metabolic networks, and repair.
Objective
ComeInCell will establish a novel integrated Synthetic Cell platform to provide cost- and resource-efficient, environmentally friendly, widely applicable and quantitative model systems to elucidate key cellular mechanisms of health and disease based on the integration of condensate and membrane models. Understanding membrane-condensate interactions is vital for deciphering their functional roles in cellular processes. Our consortium employs synthetic vesicles as model systems to explore these interactions. These tailor-made mimics of cellular compartments offer a platform for studying membrane dynamics and the impact of compartmentalization on the activity of reaction networks and the assembly of complex machinery. We will design synthetic cells as life-science prototyping tools to decipher the role of membrane-associated condensates in essential cellular processes linked to membrane transport, membrane transformation, metabolic networks, and repair. The network will confront global challenges, providing solutions in drug development, therapeutics, green-related issues, and synthetic biology. Our goal is to equip junior scientists with cross-disciplinary expertise for developing integrated synthetic cellular testbeds encompassing condensates and membranes, revolutionizing prototyping systems. We will train the next generation of biophysicists, biochemists and bioengineers in rigorous quantitative and mechanistic thinking, while establishing strong ties to young and emerging European SMEs in the health sector for efficient dissemination towards new therapies
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral NetworksCoordinator
80539 Munchen
Germany
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Participants (10)
66123 Saarbruecken
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40225 Dusseldorf
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9712CP Groningen
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6525 XZ Nijmegen
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28006 Madrid
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15782 Santiago De Compostela
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3400 Klosterneuburg
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75794 Paris
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69978 Tel Aviv
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53100 Siena
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Partners (19)
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3000 Leuven
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01307 Dresden
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79104 Freiburg
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80339 Munchen
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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14197 Berlin
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1165 Kobenhavn
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3526 KV Utrecht
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2628 CN Delft
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15782 SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
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GU2 7XH Guildford
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CB24 9LF Cambridge
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10117 Berlin
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14469 Potsdam
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80539 MUNCHEN
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66123 Saarbrucken
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28040 Madrid
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69342 Lyon
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SW7 2AZ LONDON
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CB2 1TN Cambridge
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