Objective
Certain proteins and glycans self-organize in vivo into soft and strongly hydrated, dynamic and gel-like supramolecular assemblies. Among such biomolecular hydrogels are the jelly-like matrix that is formed around the egg during ovulation, mucosal membranes, slimy coats produced by bacteria in biofilms, and the nuclear pore permeability barrier.
Even though biomolecular hydrogels play crucial roles in many fundamental biological processes, there is still a very limited understanding about how they function. Our goal is to assess and to understand the relation between the organizational and dynamic features of such supramolecular assemblies, their physicochemical properties, and the resulting biological functions. We will investigate these relationships directly on the supramolecular level, a level that - for this type of assemblies - is hardly accessible with conventional approaches.
To this end, we use purpose-designed in vitro model systems that are well-defined in the sense that their composition and supramolecular structure can be controlled and interrogated. These tailor-made models, together with a toolbox of surface-sensitive in situ analysis techniques, permit tightly controlled and quantitative experiments. Combined with polymer physics theory, the experimental data allow us to directly test existing hypotheses and to formulate new hypotheses that can be further tested in complementary molecular and cell-based assays.
This project focuses on two types of biomolecular hydrogels: (i) the nuclear pore permeability barrier, a nanoscopic protein meshwork that regulates all macromolecular transport into and out of the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, and (ii) extracellular hydrogel-like matrices that are scaffolded by the polysaccharide hyaluronan and that are of prime importance in a wide range of physiological and pathological processes including inflammation, fertilization and osteoarthritis.
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 bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
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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-2012-StG_20111012
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
20009 San Sebastian
Spain
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.