Objective
Formation of fibrillar protein aggregates (amyloid) is associated with serious diseases of global concern, e.g. Alzheimer's, prion diseases, type II diabetes. Despite the expanding research the mechanisms and determinants of amyloid formation in vivo are poorly understood. In the in vitro studies, rather severe conditions are often necessary to initiate the amyloid assembly (extreme pH, high temperature). In contrast, phospholipid membranes have been recently discovered to facilitate, in an apparently very generic manner, the initial steps of polymerisation due to orienting, charge neutralizing, and destabilizing effects of the membrane interface on the protein structure. This project is focused on the amyloidogenic protein polymerisation at charged phospho lipid membranes.
The main objectives are:
1) to determine correlations between the changes in protein conformation and the course of aggregation;
2) to define the key factors initiating and controlling the kinetics of the fibre formation on the membrane su rface; and
3) to obtain quantitative information on the structure of phospholipid-induced fibres.
The studies will rely on well- defined model lipid systems (solid-supported bilayers, vesicles, giant liposomes) and the use of a combination of conformation- (FTIR, CD, fluorescence spectroscopies) and interaction-sensitive techniques (quantitative FRET microscopy, AFM). This will allow us to examine both changes in the protein internal structure and inter-molecular interactions (lipid binding, oligomerization, macroscopic aggregation) in the same model lipid systems under similar conditions. Proteins and peptides to be studied include fluorescently labelled lysozyme, cytochrome c, histone H1, and amyloid forming model peptides based on IAPP, temporins, etc. The proposed research will capitalize on joining the applicant's outstanding expertise in quantitative fluorescence techniques and the fertile research environment of the host group.
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 basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy emission spectroscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
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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.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-7
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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.
IIF - Marie Curie actions-Incoming International Fellowships
Coordinator
UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI, HELSINKI
Finland
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.