Objective
The innate immunity system for vertebrates represents the front-end of their defense against invading viruses and bacteria. Its activation is based on the recognition of pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by specialized receptors. Central in the pathogen recognition process is the detection of nucleic acids. However, how exactly foreign nucleic acids are distinguished from host DNA and RNA is poorly understood and of great importance since false recognition leads to severe auto-immune disorders. DAI is a protein which recently was identified as a receptor for dsDNA in the cytoplasm. It belongs to a small family of interferon response related proteins which share DNA/RNA binding domains called Z-domains due to their unusual ability to bind left-handed helices of nucleic acids. Here we propose structural and biochemical work aiming to clarify the molecular basis of the interaction of DAI with nucleic acids as well as to define the role of Z-domains in the context of the interferon inducible RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 and the viral inhibitor of interferon response E3L. This work will build upon extensive crystallographic, NMR and biochemical work on individual isolated Z-domains and aims to clarify how those domains combine and function in the context of the corresponding full length proteins. As part of this work the determination of the structure of DAI in complex with DNA is expected to become a powerful tool for the extensive immunological studies related to the interferon response activation by nucleic acids in the cytoplasm. The work is to be carried out in conjunction at two affiliated institutions: IGC and ITQB both located at Oeiras/Portugal, the first highly respected in immunology and the second in structural biology.
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 biochemistry biomolecules nucleic acids
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics DNA
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology structural biology
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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-IRG-2008
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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
1067-001 LISBOA
Portugal
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.