Project description
Decoding chemical communication between organelles
Cells maintain function, adapt to stimuli and coordinate complex processes such as neuronal activity by communicating with each other. This dialogue often occurs through nanometre-sized organelles such as vesicles, stress granules and exosomes that transport and release signalling molecules. However, the chemical mechanisms governing this exchange remain poorly understood. The ERC-funded ComOrganellesAnalyt project will pioneer analytical technologies combining electroanalytical chemistry and mass spectrometry imaging to dissect the chemical composition and dynamics of organelles. Researchers will measure molecular exchange between organelles and map their spatial organisation across cells in the brain. Project results will uncover how organelle interactions regulate communication, plasticity and the origins of brain disease.
Objective
Cellular communication is mediated by nanometer-sized organelles (vesicles, stress granules, exosomes) that are potentially responsible for carrying and releasing signalling molecules. I propose to use my extensive background in electroanalytical chemistry and mass spectrometry imaging to develop new technologies to chemically dissect vesicles, exosomes, and stress granules both dynamically and in fixed samples with spatial discrimination across living cells - the next frontier in cell analysis. The following four aims are proposed. I will develop 1) methods to chemically dissect and dynamically determine chemical species at and in nanometer organelles and suborganelles, 2) methods to spatially measure and evaluate the chemistry of organelles across cells, 3) analytical approaches to measure exchange of transmitters and metabolites between organelles and the role of this exchange in cellular communication, and 4) experiments in organoids and fly brain leading to a unified theory of the chemical interaction between organelles involved in cellular communication and plasticity. My group has pioneered the discovery that most regular exocytosis is partial, adding a third release mode to kiss n run or full vesicle distention. This opens a window of discovery concerning the structural and dynamical mechanisms of organelles that regulate neural communication. Ultimately, this will allow me to discern the chemical mechanisms of initial plasticity and brain cellular disease as it is likely that the different organelles in the cell related to communication interact chemically to regulate this process. This proposal is to develop and apply analytical methods to discover the interconnections between these organelles, and to relate them to the chemical events initiating plasticity.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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-ADG
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.
405 30 Goeteborg
Sweden
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.