Objective
The newly emerging discipline of Synthetic Biology holds the promise of radically changing the way we probe, control and augment living matter from single cells to entire organisms, and revolutionize basic biological research, biotechnology, and medicine. However, practical work toward these important goals is still in its infancy, in part because concrete approaches to achieve rational control of cell physiology are currently lacking. In order to advance this vision, here we propose a detailed strategy toward engineered regulatory circuits that read out complex cellular states based on multiple biological signals, and convert this information into a desired action based on pre-programmed signal integration. If successful, our strategy will enable unprecedented level of rational intervention with the cell.
Specifically, we suggest to read out cellular information as relayed by expression and activity of cell’s transcription factors, proteins that control gene expression and serve as major regulators of cell fate and cell response to transient stimuli. The readout will be accomplished with the help of specially-designed sensor promoters that will in turn drive the expression of engineered microRNA molecules. Those molecules in turn will converge on a small number of response elements in engineered downstream transcripts, implementing highly-flexible and programmable logic integration of the original transcription factor signals (Rinaudo et al, Nature Biotechnology, 2007 and Leisner et al, Nature Nanotechnology, 2010).
We propose a stepwise bottom-up construction strategy whereby we first design, test and optimize sensor promoters for individual TFs, next we integrate them into large networks, and finally we show how to utilize these networks as prototype selective anti-cancer therapies. To validate our approaches, we will use human cancer cell lines as a model system.
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 synthetic biology
- engineering and technology nanotechnology
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology
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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-2011-StG_20101109
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.
Host institution
8092 Zuerich
Switzerland
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.