Objective
Thyroid hormone (TH) is crucial for the normal development and metabolism of all tissues. The actions of the bioactive T3 are mediated by binding to its nuclear receptors (TRs), of which TRa1 and TRb1 are the main isoforms. It is known for decades that mutations in TRb1 result in resistance to TH, among others characterized by goiter and tachycardia, and abnormal TH levels.
Ever since its characterization in 1987, investigators have searched for patients with mutations in TRa1. However, very recently the host and applicant’s laboratory independently discovered the first patients with inactivating mutations in TRa1. These patients show growth retardation, delayed bone, motor and mental development as well as abnormal TH levels.
The patients display remarkable differences in neurological, bone and biochemical phenotype. Interestingly, all mutants are located within exon 9, which encodes a domain important for ligand binding and interaction with co-activator and co-repressor proteins. It is likely that mutant-specific properties underlie the differences in clinical phenotype.
The aim of this project is to unravel the molecular mechanisms leading to the clinical phenotype of patients with TRa1 mutations. The key objectives are: (i) to study direct effects of mutations in a reporter assay; (ii) to detail consequences of mutations on downstream target genes; (iii) to identify alterations in the interaction of the receptor mutants with cofactor proteins and (iv) to establish a genotype-phenotype relationship.
Using an integrative approach with well-established and advanced techniques, this scientifically fascinating project will certainly deepen our understanding of the role of TRa1 in health and disease.
The combination of the longstanding expertise of resistance to TH in the host laboratory together with my studies and experience concerning all aspects of cellular TH regulation will promise the success of this project.
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.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases cardiac arrhythmia
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
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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.
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF
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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.
Coordinator
CB2 1TN CAMBRIDGE
United Kingdom
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.