Objective
A major challenge for any visual system is the dramatic difference in ambient light between a starlit night and midday sun. In contrast to the ciliary rods of vertebrates, the rhabdomeric photoreceptors of the common fruitfly not only reliably detect single photons when dark-adapted (generating responses called ‘quantum bumps’), but continue responding in full daylight. At the core of this performance lie positive and negative feedback loops, many involving Ca2+ entry through the light activated transient receptor potential channels TRP and TRPL. Although Ca2+ modulates virtually every step of the phototransductive cascade, key targets are the channels themselves, leading to: (i) amplification by positive feedback during the rising phase of quantum bumps, (ii) gain reduction by negative feedback during quantum bump termination and during light adaptation. Our objectives are to combine single cell electrophysiology and optogenetics to explore Ca2+ signalling in fly photoreceptors, dissecting both its molecular interaction with TRP and TRPL channels and its dynamics within the cell. Our first aim will be to characterise the role of Calmodulin binding sites and other unknown regulatory sites on TRP and TRPL, in the feedback loops described above. Flies expressing mutated and chimeric TRP/TRPL channels will be used. Our second aim will be to obtain measurements of Ca2+ dynamics with subcellular spatial resolution under physiological illumination. Genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators will be targeted to specific cellular compartments and imaged in intact flies by exploiting the optics of the compound eye. Measurements will be made in fly mutants displaying defective light responses and retinal degeneration, leading to precise hypotheses on the mechanisms responsible for their phenotypes. This project will bring our understanding of rhabdomeric phototransduction to a new level of sophistication, while enriching my professional skills in a world-class laboratory.
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 chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkali metals
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- natural sciences physical sciences optics
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology invertebrate zoology
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
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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.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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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.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2014
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
CB2 1TN 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.