Objective
Odorant receptors, members of the GPCR family, are an excellent example of natural superiority in binding specificity of small and hydrophobic molecules. But difficulties in expression, isolation and solubilisation of GPCRs hampered the assay development and further applications in sensor devices far.
We propose modular engineering, including an in vitro strategy for protein expression in combination with synthetic amphiphiles mimicking a cell membrane, thus preserving the structural functional integrity of the GPCRs. By addition of the mere genetic information of the protein of interest, de novo protein synthesis and insertion in a supported membrane has been observed, recently. With the challenging example of odorant receptors as GPCR species, we would like to expand these findings towards a robust sensor platform taking advantage of the odorant receptors' superior recognition potential of small hydrophobic molecules.
Synthetic materials, with suitable amphiphilic properties as structural analogues to phospholipids, provide untapped design potential mimicking native membrane architectures. Use of these synthetic amphiphiles broadens the spectrum of sensor application towards air-borne sensors. The assembly of a synthetic membrane layer on the sensor surface by fusion of block copolymer vesicles and the functional incorporation of GPCRs will be monitored by a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM-D), sensitive to detect the membrane formation as well as the protein insertion even in the presence of optically opaque cell extracts.
Surface enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy will be employed to verify functional incorporation of the odorant receptors into the polymer membrane matrix. Structural and mobility properties of the membrane embedded proteins will be analyzed at the single-molecule level based on image correlation microscopy. Ultimately, ligand-receptor interactions will be assessed on a new sensor concept via optical and mechanical means.
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 physical sciences optics spectroscopy emission spectroscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
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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-NEST-PATH
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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
MUENCHEN
Germany
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.