Project description
Mobile genetic elements in embryonic development
Embryonic development is driven by tightly coordinated gene expression. However, this alone does not seem to fully explain developmental progression. Transposable elements (TEs) are mobile genetic elements that make up about half of the mammalian genome. TEs are involved in early development, but their role after embryo implantation remains poorly understood. The ERC-funded TEASEr project will investigate how TEs contribute to both physiological and pathological embryo development. The research team will employ advanced genome engineering, high-resolution sequencing and imaging in embryos and stem cell models to study how TEs are switched on or off during cell differentiation and how they drive tissue formation.
Objective
The formation of a functional embryo is dictated by precise genetic and morphogenetic events. Yet, focusing solely on gene expression does not seem sufficient to explain all developmental phenotypes. Mobile genetic elements (or transposable elements, TEs) have been little studied in the context of cellular differentiation and organogenesis. I propose that TEs contribute to embryo formation, both in physiological and pathological contexts.
Nearly all eukaryotic genomes contain TEs, which account for roughly half of the mammalian genome. TEs are involved in early pre-implantation development as well as pathologies such as cancer and aging, but their role in the post-implantation embryo is unclear. This is in part due to technical challenges that can now be overcome with advances in genome engineering and long-read sequencing. I recently described that the aberrant expression of a TE during mouse limb development leads to the production of toxic viral-like particles (VLPs), causing a pathological phenotype. Mechanistically, this involves the TE using local gene regulation for its own transcription in specific developmental cells. These findings provoke emerging concepts on how TEs can disrupt or participate in embryo formation which will be addressed in this proposal through the generation of tailored stem cell and in vivo mouse models targeting specific TEs, combined with high-throughput sequencing and microscopy.
First, I will investigate the pathogenic threat of TE insertion in mouse embryos during organogenesis. Second, the silencing and activation of TEs during lineage commitment will be addressed in stem-cell-based embryo models. Finally, I will explore the role of TEs in tissue shaping during developmental senescence. This will provide novel insight into unexplored areas of genomic regulation during embryo development. Thereby, TEASEr will introduce TEs as an important player in genetic unsolved congenital malformation and physiological embryogenesis.
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 developmental biology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine embryology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
You need to log in or register to use this function
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-2025-STG
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.
80539 MUNCHEN
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.