Project description
The interplay of gene expression processes
The complex interplay between bacterial gene expression processes remains poorly understood. Key mechanisms like transcription, translation, and DNA repair often operate in parallel, yet little is known about how they are functionally coupled. In this context, the ERC-funded RNP5D project seeks to address this by investigating how these processes interact at the molecular level. Using advanced techniques in single-molecule biophysics, biochemistry, and structural biology, the project will reconstitute transcription-translation systems and DNA repair pathways in vitro and in vivo. By integrating these systems, the project aims to uncover how these critical cellular processes cooperate or compete, providing new insights into gene expression regulation and setting a new standard for studying complex biological systems.
Objective
This proposal brings together the fields of bacterial transcription, translation and DNA repair with state-of-the art single-molecule biophysics in vitro and in vivo, biochemistry and structural biology to address a central but understudied question in biology: how are different macromolecular processes interconnected and functionally coupled? I aim to elucidate this by investigating the crosstalk between central processes in bacterial gene expression: transcription, translation and DNA repair.
First, to understand what determines whether transcription is coupled to translation, we will reconstitute the complete transcription-translation system in vitro and image the process in real-time using cutting-edge multi-color single-molecule fluorescence experiments. We will support our dynamic single-molecule data with structural information from cryo-electron tomography. In order to verify that our in vitro data also have physiological relevance, we will electroporate reconstituted and labelled RNAP/ribosome complexes into live E. coli cells for multi-color single-molecule imaging also in vivo.
Second, we will reconstitute the transcription-coupled DNA nucleoside excision repair pathway in vitro. Integrating multi-color single-molecule fluorescence with optical tweezer assays, will allow us to resolve a controversial point on how transcription-coupled DNA repair starts, comparing the established concept of Mfd-initiation with the newly proposed UvrD/RNAP-mediated lesion recognition.
Finally, we will develop single-molecule experiments for integrating all three processes, specifically transcription, translation and DNA repair, into a single system to quantify cooperativity and competition between individual components and processes.
Overall, this proposal will provide quantitative and mechanistic understanding of how central processes to gene expression are functionally interconnected, setting a new benchmark for examining complex biological systems in context.
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 microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
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.1.1 - 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 - HORIZON ERC 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-2024-COG
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.
69117 Heidelberg
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.