Objective
Electron microscopy (EM) is an invaluable tool for investigating the nanometer-scale organization of molecular assemblies such as viruses, but is restricted to dead cells, does not readily label targeted proteins, and is prone to fixation artefacts. Recently developed methods to break the diffraction limit in optical microscopy have the potential to resolve protein arrangements in living cells. However, their resolution is currently restricted to ~20-30 nm, still an order of magnitude removed from EM, and dynamic super-resolution imaging remains challenging. Here, we aim to reconstruct the protein arrangements of molecular structures at resolutions better than 20 nm by harnessing the power of statistics, i.e. by aggregating images from hundreds or thousands of copies of nearly-identical structures and when possible by exploiting their symmetry. To do this, we will adapt computational methods of single particle reconstruction from electron microscopy to super-resolution optical microscopy. After validation on synthetic data, we will test and apply these methods to nuclear pores and adenovirus capsids. These examples have been chosen because of their geometric features that work well with our approaches. Particularly, we are interested in obtaining novel insight into the dynamic structural changes occurring at the nuclear pore complex during active transport. Furthermore, we aim to decipher the sequence of events during viral capsid formation. This work has the potential to further push the resolution of optical microscopy towards that of electron microscopy for the analysis of ordered molecular assemblies. If successful, our project will open the door to structural investigations in living cells, including the assembly process of viral particles, or the plasticity of the nuclear pores and its role in nucleo-cytoplasmic transport.
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 microbiology virology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy super resolution microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron microscopy
- natural sciences computer and information sciences computational science
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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-2009-IEF
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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
75724 Paris
France
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.