Objective Movement is a defining characteristic of life at the sub-cellular level. Dynein is one of the motor proteins that power this movement. It carries a wide range of cargos and dynein dysfunction has been implicated in many human diseases. Unlike other motors only one cytoplasmic dynein exists which suggests that it has unique mechanisms for controlling specificity i.e. how it carries cargo to the right place at the right time. In order to understand these mechanisms detailed structural knowledge of the cargo interacting dynein tail will be essential.We propose to study the structure dynein tail by achieving three independent objectives. 1) Obtain the crystal structure of the yeast dynein tail. To do this we will combine a plasmid based S. cerevisiae expression system developed at our institute with advanced fermentation techniques. 2) Recombinantly express mammalian dynein tail complexes for single particle electron microscopic analysis and biochemical characterization. This will be achieved using novel molecular biological techniques for expressing protein complexes combined with cryo-EM. 3) Analysis of viral interactions with dynein. This will be achieved by reconstituting dynein/virus movement in vitro and subsequently analyzing dynein/virus complexes by EM tomography.Together these approaches will allow us to analyze the structure and function of the whole dynein tail complex to gain insight in dynein/cargo specificity for the first time. This innovative project will significantly strengthen European science by serving as an excellent starting point for many new and groundbreaking lines of research. Furthermore, it will allow the applicant move to a different European country as well as switch fields of research. Fields of science engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcrystalsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsengineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybioprocessing technologiesfermentation 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-2011-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development" Call for proposal FP7-PEOPLE-2011-IEF See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinator MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL Address 20 park crescent W1B 1AL London United Kingdom See on map Activity type Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Elizabeth Cutler (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window EU contribution No data
