Objective
Degradation of sphingomyelin (SM) by a sphingomyelinase (SMase) generates ceramide, a lipid metabolite increasingly recognised as an important pro-apoptotic mediator. The exact role of ceramide in apoptosis is unclear and aspects such as the source SM pool, and whether a membrane-associated neutral SMase (nSMase) or a lysosomal acid SMase is primarily involved, remain also to be defined. In this project, we will exploit the Listeria model of intracellular parasitism and an nSMase produced by these pathogenic bacteria, SmcL, identified and characterised in the host laboratory, to gain a better understanding of the role played by ceramide in host cell physiology, with particular emphasis on the apoptotic response. SmcL also provides a beautiful model to analyse how mimicry of host cell physiological functions by bacterial virulence factors contributes to the pathogenesis of infection.
The host cell responses associated to SmcL-generated ceramide will be analysed during intracellular infection by using genome-wide transcriptome profiling and the specific pathways affected will be dissected by using a combination of molecular and cell biology techniques. Finally, we will also attempt to crystallise SmcL in collaboration with structural biologists. If successful, S mcL will become the first example of the neutral SMase family, a new group of SM-degrading enzymes comprising bacterial and eukaryotic orthologues with roles in virulence and signalling, to be characterised structurally.
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 cell biology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA transcriptomes
- natural sciences biological sciences biological behavioural sciences ethology biological interactions
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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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.
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.
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.
FP6-2002-MOBILITY-5
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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.
Coordinator
BRISTOL
United Kingdom
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.