Objective
The low-density lipoprotein receptor family (LDLRs) is an evolutionarily conserved group of structurally and functionally related proteins. Traditionally, they were involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis of a variety of cargo molecules, including lipoproteins. However, the discovery of additional members of the family revealed that several LDLRs also have signal-transduction activity and play critical roles during development. Our understanding of these signalling functions is still poor. Because of their multiple roles, LDLRs are involved in several human diseases and conditions like familial hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, abnormal bone density or Alzheimer's disease.
We propose the use of Drosophila melanogaster as an excellent model organism to study the signalling properties of LDLRs. First, we plan to obtain mutants for each of the five novel Drosophila LDLR genes, study their functions during development and to identify their potential roles in signal transduction. Second, we will design genetic screens to uncover the intracellular components necessary to transduce the signals received by LDLRs from the cell surface to the nucleus. We anticipate that a significant number of the cytoplasmic transducers we find in Drosophila will also be conserved and perform similar functions in mammals.
Finally, a distinct part of this proposal relates to the biogenesis of LDLR proteins in cells. We recently identified a molecular chaperone that is specifically required for the maturation of LDLRs in the endoplas micreticulum and that we named Boca. We will extend our results to better define the biochemical activity of Boca.
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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases arteriosclerosis
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine endocrinology diabetes
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition obesity
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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.
FP6-2004-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.
Coordinator
MADRID
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.