Objective
Membrane fusion is a universal process essential inside cells (endoplasmic) and between cells in fertilization and organ formation (exoplasmic). With the exception of SNARE-mediated endoplasmic fusion the proteins that mediate cellular fusion (fusogens) are unknown. Despite many years of research, little is known about the mechanism of cell-cell fusion. Our studies of developmental cell fusion in the nematode C. elegans have led to the discovery of the first family of eukaryotic fusogens (FF). These fusogens, EFF-1 and AFF-1, are type I membrane glycoproteins that are essential for cell fusion and can fuse cells when ectopically expressed on the membranes of C. elegans and heterologous cells.
Our main goals are:
(1) To determine the physicochemical mechanism of cell membrane fusion mediated by FF proteins.
(2) To find the missing fusogens that act in cell fusion events across all kingdoms of life.
We hypothesize that FF proteins fuse membranes by a mechanism analogous to viral or endoplasmic fusogens and that unidentified fusogens fuse cells following the same principles as FF proteins.
Our specific aims are:
AIM 1 Determine the mechanism of FF-mediated cell fusion: A paradigm for cell membrane fusion
AIM 2 Find the sperm-egg fusion proteins (fusogens) in C. elegans
AIM 3 Identify the myoblast fusogens in mammals
AIM 4 Test fusogens using functional cell fusion assays in heterologous systems
Identifying critical domains required for FF fusion, intermediates in membrane remodeling, and atomic structures of FF proteins will advance the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of eukaryotic cell fusion. We propose to find the Holy Grail of fertilization and mammalian myoblast fusion. We estimate that this project, if successful, will bring a breakthrough to the sperm-egg and muscle fusion fields with potential applications in basic and applied biomedical sciences.
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
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy
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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.
ERC-2010-AdG_20100317
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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.
Host institution
32000 Haifa
Israel
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.