Objective
During nervous system development, neurons generate more axonal processes than ultimately survive; some of these axonal branches are pruned, whereas others are stabilized to constitute a mature neuronal network. Relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms that control axonal branch formation and stabilization. Functional analysis of diverse molecules during development has been carried out by means of the generation of regular mutant mice. However, the early mortality of these mutants has prevented their analysis during postnatal development, particularly in the central nervous system. To overcome this problem, conditional-mutant mice using the Cre/LoxP recombination system has been generated.
Using this technology, the production of mice lacking a gene of interest in a tissue or cell-type specific-manner has been possible. In our previous studies, we have used conditional-mutants to investigate the function of the focal adhesion kinase, FAK. We have demonstrated that FAK is a positive cue for a xonal elongation and a negative cue for axonal branching, and consequently synapse establishment. The aim of this proposal is to characterize the molecular mechanisms by which FAK is controlling axonal development and synapse formation.
Using cell-specific ablation in cortical cultures we propose to accomplish three fundamental goals:
(1) to determine the role of local FAK in axonal elongation and branching in vivo,
(2) to establish the downstream pathways following FAK activation, and
(3) to unravel possible extra-cellular cues that use FAK as an intracellular mediator during axonal development.
I anticipate that some of the insights of this research will increase our understanding not just of the initial development of neural connections but also of normal plastic rearrangements of neural connections occurring in the adult nervous system.
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 neurobiology
- social sciences sociology demography mortality
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics mathematical analysis functional analysis
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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-12
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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.
IRG - Marie Curie actions-International re-integration grants
Coordinator
ELCHE
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.