Project description DEENESFRITPL Investigating the mechanisms of actin binding proteins Actin is a major protein component of the cytoskeleton that exists in monomeric and polymeric or filament forms. Actin filaments play a vital role in cellular functions such as motility, endocytosis, cell division and muscle contraction. Actin binding proteins (ABPs) determine the structure, organisation and dynamics of the actin filaments. However, details of the mechanisms through which they function in their environment remain obscure. The ERC-funded SegregActin project aims to discern how cells induce the formation of actin networks of favourable ABP composition from an inventory of cytoplasmic constituents. It also seeks to determine the relationship between the ABP composition of actin networks, and their geometrical, dynamical, and rheological properties. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective "The ability of cells to use the actin cytoskeleton for a diversity of cellular processes is due to the fact that actin filaments, although assembled from identical subunits, are organized in a wide variety of structures of appropriate geometrical, dynamical and rheological properties. Key players in this regulation are specific sets of actin binding proteins (ABPs) interacting with each actin networks, to modulate spatially and temporally their properties. With this project, I want to understand 1/ how cells can generate the formation of actin structures of appropriate ABP composition from a common pool of cytoplasmic components and 2/ the relationship between the ABP composition of an actin network, its geometrical and dynamical properties, and its response to mechanical deformations.I will hypothesize that the generation of an actin network of appropriate ABP composition can be explained with an original model, taking into account the facts that 1/ actin filaments in cells are not all structurally identical, but adopt specific conformations that are favored and stabilized by certain families of ABPs; and 2/ the interaction of ABPs with actin depends of the geometrical organization of the filaments.Because this project imposes to study protein-protein interactions in the presence of multiple partners, I propose to develop an unprecedented strategy combining 1/ ""bottom-up"" reconstitutions, where limited sets of ABPs are added one-by-one in the system to understand their combined activities with actin; and 2/ ""top-down"" reconstitutions with protein extracts prepared from a genetically-tractable organism (the yeast S. cerevisiae), where proteins can be removed one-by-one, in order to study actin network properties in near-physiological conditions.This project will shed a new light on how cells organize their interior, and will represent a unique opportunity to understand how modifications in the expression of ABPs are associated with actin network defects." Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsproteomicsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-StG-2014 - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2014-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Host institution CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS Net EU contribution € 1 500 000,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 500 000,00 Beneficiaries (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS France Net EU contribution € 1 500 000,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 500 000,00 COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES Participation ended France Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address RUE LEBLANC 25 75015 PARIS 15 See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data Third-party Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure. CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS Participation ended France Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 75794 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost No data
