Objective
Many valuable drugs, including antibiotics, immunosuppressants and anticancer compounds are polyketide natural products of actinomycete bacteria. They are produced on modular polyketide synthases (PKSs), assembly-line multienzymes containing many different enzyme active sites, housed in giant multifunctional polypeptides. A number of strategies are now used to engineer PKSs and produce altered bioactive products, especially domain and module swapping between natural PKSs.
However, many hybrid PKSs have compromised catalytic abilities. We intend here to use novel knowledge-based engineering of the active sites of enoylreductase (ER) domains, which play a key role in establishing the stereochemistry of branching alkyl groups. We propose that alteration of only a few active site residues will be sufficient to switch the stereochemical outcome of reduction. This hypothesis will be tested using two complementary approaches: (a) individual recombinant ER domains (and site-directed mutants) will be purified and their activity and stereospecificity studied in vitro; and (b) a triketide synthase model PKS will be used to assay altered ER domains in vivo. Finally, the technique will be applied to creating a designed change in the clinically important macrolide antibotic erythromycin A, by switching the active site of the ER domain from module 4 of the erythromycin-producing PKS.
This project will comprise an advanced training programme in the techniques and skills to be used in studying unique "assembly-line" multienzyme complexes, in which the host laboratory is highly experienced. This will complement the Marie-Curie Fellow's strong existing training in bio-organic chemistry, and thus consolidate and broaden her career prospects, as well as maintaining excellence in European research. Hence the project is directly relevant to the Work Programme as well as the specific aims of the Marie Curie IEF action.
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
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy pharmaceutical drugs antibiotics
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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-5
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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
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.