Objective
Recently, membrane nanotubes have been found to connect many types of cells, including cells of the immune system. These nanotubes contain actin filaments, are not attached to substrate, and are distinct from other cell tethers such as filopodia and membrane bridges. Potentially, specific coupling of cells over long distances can have great significance, and evidence is mounting to suggest that membrane nanotubes may have a role, e.g. in specific cell-to-cell signalling and trafficking of pathogens between cells. However, the molecular basis for the nanotubes formation is almost completely unknown. This is an urgent goal for research in this area since functional tests for the importance of membrane nanotubes are currently hampered by a lack of knowledge regarding specific ways to inhibit or augment nanotube formation. Thus, I aim to address this issue by answering three specific questions: 1) Does the formation of membrane nanotubes and filopodia require the same proteins? This will be assessed by knocking-down the production of proteins involved in filopodia formation, and observing the frequency of nanotube formation, their length, and their stability. In parallel I will test for the presence of these proteins in membrane nanotubes using mAb and/or fluorescent protein-tagged proteins as available. 2) Next I will test whether proteins known to be involved in the morphological changes the underlie immune cell spreading and contraction are required for the formation of the nanotubes. The effects of these proteins will be tested by knocking-down proteins and additionally, changes in cytoskeletal and membrane tension that are coupled to changes in cytoskeleton reorganization will be evaluated using optical tweezers. 3) Finally, I will test if the membrane protein and lipid composition in nanotubes is different from that in the rest of the cell surface membrane. If a specific composition is revealed, this may imply specific functions for the nanotube membrane.
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 proteins
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
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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-IEF-2008
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
SW7 2AZ London
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.