Objective
Chromatin modifying enzymes play important roles in the regulation of gene expression, the establishment and maintenance of distinct cell types during development and the control of cellular proliferation. All of these features make them interesting targets for small molecule inhibitors that can function as probes for basic biological questions but also as lead compounds for drug development. Indeed the first compounds inhibiting histone deacetylases and DNA methyltransferases have been approved for treatment of proliferative disorders. For other equally important classes of chromatin modifying enzymes, in particular histone methyltransferases (HMTases) and histone demethylases (HDMs), currently only few or no small molecule antagonists are available. Here we propose to identify and generate such compounds and test them together with RNAi libraries for their ability to control cell fate decisions and proliferation in two important medical areas, diabetes and cancer. In diabetes therapy, reestablishment of pancreatic beta cell mass is an important clinical goal. We will address the contribution of chromatin modifying enzymes to beta cell proliferation and trans(differentiation) into beta cells, and then use this knowledge to generate and improve small molecules targeting these pathways. While inducers of proliferation are desirable for beta cell expansion, proliferation control is essential for treatment of cancer. Different chromatin modifying enzymes have been implicated as tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes, making compounds targeting these enzymes promising for cancer therapy. We will identify inhibitors of proliferation in several cancer cell lines that show increased expression of chromatin modifying enzymes. Furthermore, the genetic and epigenetic contributions to cancer development and the synergism between signaling and chromatin modification pathways will be addressed in leukemia cells overexpressing Bcr-Abl.
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 pharmacology and pharmacy drug discovery
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine endocrinology diabetes
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology leukemia
- 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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-1-IOF
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
1090 Wien
Austria
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.