Project description DEENESFRITPL How many TANGO partners can a protein have? The TANGO aggregation-prediction algorithm can scan protein sequences for amino acid stretches that are prone to forming intermolecular beta sheets with each other. These amino acid stretches, called aggregation-prone regions (APRs), are proven drivers of protein aggregation. Funded by the European Research Council, the MANGO project will expand the concept of aggregation driven by identical APRs (homotypic aggregation) to beta interactions between similar but not identical APRs (co-aggregation or cross-seeding). Since proteins are critical to all cellular functions, protein aggregation contributes to many diseases, e.g. Alzheimer’s disease. MANGO will develop novel bioinformatics algorithms to accurately predict co-aggregation and cross-seeding to gain new insights into the pathophysiology of diseases related to protein aggregation. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Amyloid-like protein aggregation is a process of protein assembly via the formation of intermolecular β-structures by short aggregation prone sequence regions. This occurs as an unwanted side-reaction of impaired protein folding in disease, but also for the construction of natural nanomaterials. Aggregates appear to be strongly enriched in particular proteins, suggesting that the assembly process itself is specific, but the cross-seeding of the aggregation of one protein by aggregates of another protein has also been reported. The key question that I aim to address in this proposal is how the beta-interactions of the amino acids in the aggregate spine determine the trade-off between the specificity of aggregation versus cross-seeding. To this end, I will determine the energy difference between homotypic versus heterotypic interactions and how differences in sequence translate into energy gaps. Moreover, I will analyse the sequence variations of aggregation prone stretches in natural proteomes to understand the danger of widespread co-aggregation. To achieve these outcomes, I will study the interactions and cross-seeding of aggregating proteins and model peptides in vitro and in cells. I will extract the sequence and structural determinants of co-aggregation, and employ these to construct novel bioinformatics algorithm that can accurately predict co-aggregation and cross-seeding. I will use these to analyse co-aggregation cascades in natural proteomes looking for mechanisms that protect them from wide-spread cross-seeding. This work will have a significant impact on the understanding of the downstream effects of protein aggregates and may reveal co-aggregation networks in human diseases such as the major neurodegenerative diseases or cancer, potentially opening up new research lines on the mechanisms underlying these pathologies and thus identify targets for novel therapies. Fields of science medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologydementiaalzheimernatural sciencescomputer and information sciencescomputational sciencenatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsprotein foldingmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathologynatural sciencesmathematicsapplied mathematicsstatistics and probability Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-CoG-2014 - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2014-CoG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Coordinator VIB VZW Net EU contribution € 1 995 523,00 Address Rijvisschestraat 120 9052 Zwijnaarde - gent Belgium See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen Arr. Gent 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 Other funding € 0,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all VIB VZW Belgium Net EU contribution € 1 995 523,00 Address Rijvisschestraat 120 9052 Zwijnaarde - gent See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen Arr. Gent 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 Other funding € 0,00
