Objective NEONUCLEI will develop transcription-competent synthetic analogues of cell nuclei. These particles, termed neonuclei, will be obtained through self-assembly/organisation in mixtures of DNA, macromolecules (or nanoparticles), and lipids. The composition o f the neonuclei will be chosen to produce particles with internal nano-architectures capable of sustaining gene transcription upon the addition of transcription factors. These design of the static architectures of the neonuclei and their dynamic propert ies will be guided by observations on real nuclei. The DNA of the neonuclei will contain a gene cluster (or tandem repeats of the same gene). The genes will be separated by sequences designed to induce DNA compaction in response to specific chemical or p hysical stimuli. This will be exploited to establish non-biological control over the transcription of parts, or all, of the DNA. These control sequences offer the opportunity for multiple transcription control strategies and provide the capability of im plementing temporally co-ordinated synthesis of multiple gene products. Neonuclei represent a key enabling step in the realisation of semi-biotic systems; these are systems and devices that combine synthetic non-natural functional systems with systems o f biological origin. The neonuclei will be integrated with biological systems, or with isolated components, to produce novel semi-biotic devices capable of the controlled in situ synthesis of complex bio-molecules on demand. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipidsengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materials Keywords Nanotechnology Risk Assessment Programme(s) FP6-POLICIES - Policy support: Specific activities covering wider field of research under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) NEST-2003-1 - Adventure activities Call for proposal FP6-2003-NEST-PATH See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON Address University road, highfield Southampton United Kingdom See on map Links Website Opens in new window EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all LUNDS UNIVERSITET Sweden EU contribution € 0,00 Address Paradisgatan 5c Lund See on map Links Website Opens in new window CHALMERS TEKNISKA HOGSKOLA AB Sweden EU contribution € 0,00 Address Chalmersplatsen 4 Goteborg See on map Links Website Opens in new window UNIVERSIDADE DE COIMBRA Portugal EU contribution € 0,00 Address Hospitais da universidade de coimbra - praceta mota pinto Coimbra See on map Links Website Opens in new window LUDWIG-MAXIMILIANS-UNIVERSITAET MUENCHEN Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address Geschwister-scholl-platz 1 Muenchen See on map Links Website Opens in new window