Project description
Uncovering germplasm mechanisms in zebrafish
The germline is essential for reproduction and species survival, with its functions encoded in germplasm (GP), a biomolecular structure of RNAs and proteins inherited from the mother. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the GPRiboTime project will investigate the GP in zebrafish, focusing on maternal factor regulation. Key objectives include cataloguing GP components during early embryogenesis, exploring how inactive RNAs are activated for germline development, and testing the functions of known and novel components. Using advanced techniques, this research aims to offer insights into translational regulation across various biological systems.
Objective
The germline is essential for reproduction and species survival, but the specialized molecular mechanisms governing its cellular program remain mysterious due to its small size. In many animals such as fish, frogs, and invertebrates, this program is encoded in the germplasm (GP), a biomolecular condensate containing RNAs and proteins inherited maternally through the egg. This project aims to uncover the mechanisms by which the germline program in zebrafish is decoded from the GP over developmental time, focusing on translational regulation of those maternal factors. The first objective is to systematically catalogue the components of the GP over early embryogenesis as the germline undergoes a conserved series of steps to establish itself in the gonad. This will be achieved by proximity labelling of GP components to enable its enrichment for downstream RNA sequencing and proteomic analysis, generating data that will be integrated into quantitative models of GP dynamics and regulation. The second objective will explore how the RNAs, stored inactive in the GP interior, are sequentially accessed through translation at the GP periphery to support the sequence of germline development. The third objective will test the function of known and novel GP components by knockdown or overexpression, thereby uncovering the timing and nature of individual molecules’ contribution to germline function. These objectives will benefit from interdisciplinary, sensitive techniques for analysis, such as low-input proteomics, super-resolution imaging, and cryo-electron tomography, that will overcome the challenges of working with limited material. In doing so this project will detail mechanisms of localized translational and biomolecular condensate regulation, findings that extend its impact beyond the zebrafish germline to a broad range of biological systems. This work will strengthen my interdisciplinary skills and scientific independence as I prepare to establish my own research group.
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 physical sciences optics microscopy super resolution microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences developmental biology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA transcriptomes
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology invertebrate zoology
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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.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
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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.
1030 Wien
Austria
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.