Project description
Decoding lectin specificity for cancer glycobiology
Aberrant glycosylation – the attachment of sugars to proteins and lipids – is a hallmark of cancer. Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins found in most living organisms and they have proved to be invaluable cancer research tools. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the GlycoScope project aims to shed light on lectin’s binding to unexplored glycosylation patterns in cancer. It will combine atomic-level molecular insights from nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with widely used functional lectin assays. Using chemoenzymatic methods, GlycoScope will synthesise pure glycoproteins with homogeneous, naturally occurring sugar modifications, thereby eliminating the confounding heterogeneity found in natural systems. Outcomes will advance the important field of cancer glycobiology.
Objective
GlycoScope aims to provide key answers for the understanding of lectin binding to complex and previously unexplored glycosylation patterns related to cancer. Main aim is to integrate atomic-level insights into molecular recognition, obtained through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, with widely used lectin-based assays for glycosylation analysis. This combined strategy will enable a precise chemical definition of lectin specificities and refine one of the most commonly applied tools in glycosciences. To achieve this, and as a major challenge, pure glycoproteins presenting homogeneous glycoepitopes will be generated through chemoenzymatic synthesis, ensuring natural glycan presentation and providing the optimal platform for lectin-based assays, while overcoming the critical drawback of heterogeneity that characterizes natural glycosylation. Polylactosamine (PLN) modification through I-branching and terminal sialylation will be interrogated for their binding to PLN- binding lectins, including plant lectins commonly used to characterize glycosylation and galectins, immune lectins involved in health and disease.
Complementary, GlycoScope offers Dr. Soriano a unique opportunity to broaden his training beyond his current focus on natural products and synthetic chemistry. It will provide him with interdisciplinary expertise in Molecular Recognition, Biological Chemistry and Glycobiology, thereby greatly enhancing his future employability and broadening his scientific perspective. Alongside the acquisition of specific technical skills—including NMR-based molecular recognition, chemoenzymatic chemistry, and molecular biology and protein biochemistry—Dr. Soriano will also benefit from the outstanding scientific environment and advanced training opportunities available at CIC bioGUNE. At the same time, the host-group will highly benefit from Dr. Sorianos´ expertise in chemical synthesis and purification procedures, key for the development of the project.
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.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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
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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.
48160 DERIO VIZCAYA
Spain
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.