Objective
I propose to solve the structure of Eph receptors and their ephrin ligands in an effort to gain a complete understanding of their functions and acquire knowledge and training to advance my career prospects. These proteins are located at the outer membrane of cells. When they bind, they transmit a signal into the cell that carries them, providing a means of cell-to-cell communication. They control vital aspects of life where cells have to communicate with each other, such as brain development, blood vessel formation, insulin secretion, and they play a role in many cancers. Studying their structure and signalling mechanism reveals their role in these biological processes, and provides fundamental knowledge for medical purposes. Eph receptors are type I transmembrane proteins and consist of a number of discrete domains. The crystal structures of single Eph receptor and ephrin domains are known. However, the central question of how the Eph receptor transmits a signal from the exterior of the cell into the cell interior remains unsolved. My objective is to tackle this fundamental question by finding out how the individual Eph receptor domains are arranged with respect to each other, how the binding of ephrin ligand affects this configuration, and how it relates to Eph receptor signalling. In the short term, I will use structural biology tools to examine the structure of the entire extracellular part of an Eph receptor. I have already produced preliminary data to validate the feasibility of this approach. In the medium term I will examine the structure of the extracellular part of the Eph receptor bound to an ephrin ligand. I will interpret the structural information I derive to study Eph receptor and ephrin functions. In the long term I will design and apply experimental protocols to characterize the structure of the entire transmembrane Eph receptor. This project constitutes a stepping stone from my early research to a mature and long term career in science.
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.
- engineering and technology materials engineering crystals
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology structural biology
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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
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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
OX1 2JD Oxford
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.