Project description
Assessing the impact of intracellular mitochondrial transfer on tumours
Research has uncovered mitochondria’s own DNA and distinct functions. Intracellular mitochondrial transfer (ICMT) has the potential to treat various diseases and slow the ageing process. However, knowledge about its mechanisms is limited. If functional mtDNA is transferred, it could genetically modify recipient cells, indicating that mitochondrial treatments might be a form of gene therapy. The ERC-funded MINTRAF project aims to develop a strategy to investigate ICMT and its physiological relevance. It will examine how mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) competence is maintained and the contexts in which this occurs. Using unique conplastic and heteroplasmic animal models, the project will assess the impact of ICMT in tumours and the significance of horizontal mtDNA transfer in medical interventions.
Objective
Mitochondrial research has consistently yielded surprising discoveries, such as the presence of their own DNA, use of a distinct genetic code, and their role in apoptosis. Recently, the proposal of intracellular mitochondrial transfer (ICMT) in vivo has sparked considerable interest, as this process is believed to hold significant therapeutic potential. This has generated growing public and private economical and scientific effort aimed at exploring ICMT as a potential treatment for common and rare diseases (ischemic reperfusion injury in heart, brain, kidney, etc.; mitochondrial diseases; delay in aging among others). However, there are still significant lack of knowledge, particularly regarding the proposed cellular mechanism of action, with insufficient experimental validation. Additionally, there are no studies on the physiological consequences, modulation, and functional roles of ICTM. A largely overlooked aspect is that mitochondria contain their own DNA. Therefore, if biogenetically competent mtDNA is transmitted by ICTM, the recipient cell become genetically modified. Such phenomenon has so far only been demonstrated in cancer. Therefore, any treatment with mitochondria could be classified as a form of genetic therapy. MINTRAF will establish a new strategy to determine the existence, extent and physiological relevance of ICMT. It will also investigate the maintenance of mtDNA biogenetic competence and the context where this process occurs. To achieve this, we will exploit our unique conplastic and heteroplasmic animal models to: (1) determine the extent, relevance and physiological impact of intercellular mitochondrial transfer; (2) decipher the role of ICMT as signalling process in tumour context; and (3) assess the extent, relevance and physiological impact of the horizontal mtDNA transfer in medical 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.
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
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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.
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-ADG
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28029 Madrid
Spain
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