Objective
The hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a set of diseases in which longer spinal cord axons degenerate. The pathological mechanisms of degeneration in HSPs are poorly understood, even in cases when causative genes have been cloned. To date, some thirty causative loci (SPG loci) have been mapped and thirteen cloned. The host laboratory has recently identified a mechanism by which one gene product, SPG6, can affect axonal transport. The Drosophila SPG6 homolog, spichthyin, is a novel antagonist of BMP/TGF-beta signaling that acts by modulating receptor traffic. Furthermore, the host lab has found that BMP signaling is required for maintenance of axonal microtubules (MTs) in Drosophila, and that impairment of this signaling leads to loss of axonal MTs and impairment of axonal transport. This role of BMP signaling is a novel cellular process, and may be a target for other degenerative diseases. The purpose of the project is to determine how BMP signaling regulates axonal MTs. The specific objectives are (i) to determine if BMP regulation of MTs acts via the canonical BMP pathway that involves transcriptional regulation, and/or via a more localised non-canonical pathway; (ii) to test if the MT regulation occurs by regulation of tubulin expression, and/or by activity of of MT-binding proteins; (iii) to use live imaging and techniques such as FRAP to study the effect of BMP signaling on dynamic localization and traffic of MTs. The identification of such mechanisms will allow a better understanding of both BMP signaling and MT regulation in both healthy and disease states. This project is original and innovative in that it builds on recent pioneering work in the host lab that links an important neuronal signaling pathway with basic processes of axonal MT regulation and transport. Study of the target pathway of SPG6 is timely because it can provide a framework of knowledge to understand the mechanisms of degeneration in other axonal degeneration diseases.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF
See other projects for this call
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
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
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.