Objective
Glutamatergic neurons are the main excitatory nerve cells in the central nervous system of mammals, in this project we aim to better understand the molecular composition of their synapses. We are particularly interested in the post synapse and the complexes of proteins associated to the NMDA glutamate receptor. We are focused in this set of molecules since the NMDA receptor is central for the establishment of synaptic plasticity, a physiological property of neurons which is believed to be necessary for learning and memory, the cognitive process we are interested in. The general objectives of this project are three: 1. Understanding the molecular basis of learning and memory through combined genetic and proteomic approaches. 2. Understanding the evolution of the synapse by studying species differences. 3. Characterising the human hippocampal glutamatergic synapse. These objectives will be addressed using a combination of proteomic and bioinformatic systems biology. In all cases we will isolate the protein complexes of interest and investigate its molecular composition by mass spectrometry. For the first objective we want to compare wild type mice with a series of KO for important proteins in learning and memory; we expect to better understand the role of the KO molecules in those cognitive processes. We also want to study the evolution of the glutamatergic synapse; we propose to characterize the same set of protein complexes that we studied in mice in other species, especially in humans. We believe that evolutionary studies will be a way to work out the important proteins for higher cognitive functions and we hope to describe the human synapse composition for the first time. Neurobiology is a very important field of science and it will be much more for the years to come. A deep comprehension of the synapse will be essential to understand the brain performance, synapse biology is a nascent area of neurobiology in which Europe should invest to lead it.
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
- natural sciences chemical sciences analytical chemistry mass spectrometry
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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-2007-2-1-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
CB10 1SA SAFFRON WALDEN
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.