Objective "Juvenile hormone (JH) is a critical regulator of insect development. JH prevents juvenile to adult transformation (metamorphosis) until a larva attains a proper size, at which time a drop in JH titer permits adult morphogenesis. Therefore, JH treatment of final-stage larvae blocks metamorphosis and perpetuates their juvenile state. This status-quo effect is significant for use of JH mimics, such as methoprene, for insect pest and disease vector control. Despite considerable effort, the molecular mode of JH action remains obscure due to failure to identify a JH receptor (JHR). In 1986 a Drosophila mutant screen yielded a candidate JHR gene, Methoprene-tolerant (Met). Our recent discovery that Met regulates insect metamorphosis in response to JH inspired new efforts to characterize the JH signaling pathway. This proposal aims to complete the quest for the JH receptor by resolving the structure of the Met protein and by functionally characterizing proteins that together with Met may form an active JHR. The Applicant is experienced developmental biologist and molecular geneticist. However, neither he nor his host institution in the Czech Republic possess the expertise and equipment required for protein structural analyses. Therefore, the Applicant proposes to collaborate with the Australian CSIRO, where a research team led by Prof. Ronald J. Hill has the most relevant experience in resolving the structure of insect nuclear hormone receptors. The team has extensive protein purification and crystallization facilities and access to the Australian synchrotron. The Applicant would greatly profit from the capacity present at CSIRO by learning the approaches to protein expression, purification, and structural analysis. This would not only lead to the above scientific aim but tremendously improve the qualification of the Applicant upon his return to Europe. At the community level, it would increase the lost competitiveness of European-based science in the field of JH research." Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomologysocial sciencespolitical sciencesgovernment systems Programme(s) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF - Marie Curie Action: "International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IOF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IOF - International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) Coordinator BIOLOGICKE CENTRUM AKADEMIE VID CESKE REPUBLIKY VEREJNA VYZKUMNA INSTITUCE Address Branisovska 1160/31 370 05 Ceske budejovice Czechia See on map Region Česko Jihozápad Jihočeský kraj Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Frantisek Marec (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data
