Objective
Focal adhesions (FA) are gigantic protein complexes whose formation is triggered by integrin ligand activation. FAs represent (1) a sensing platform and anchoring points to the outside environment and, (2) a machinery to transduce this information by initiating signaling pathways for cell growth, survival, migration and polarization. Failure in the regulation of FA leads to developmental defects and contributes to the formation of aggressive cancers. Hence, understanding FA formation is the basis for counteracting these detrimental effects. Recently, mass spectrometry and advanced light microscopy clarified players involved in the FA assembly and implicated sophisticated regulation networks of membranes and actin cytoskeletons in the growth of FAs. However, the molecular mechanisms of FA formation and signaling still remain unclear.
We propose to study the molecular mechanisms governing the growth of FA by bottom-up reconstitutions using purified recombinant protein components. We will employ a systematic and hierarchical assembly of the FA machinery on an integrin platform as well as on an actin cytoskeleton in a stepwise fashion. We will use a combination of cutting-edge techniques of hybrid structural biology (cryo-EM and X-ray crystallography), light microscopy and biochemical/biophysical approaches. Our core expertise is cryo-EM, which has emerged as the method of choice to study the molecular mechanisms of (super-)macromolecular assemblies. Furthermore, we will set up a system to observe the behavior of tension-sensitive FA components in the presence of force under cryo-EM. Finally, lessons learned from our biochemical and ultrastructural analysis will be directly transferred and tested in living cells. Using these innovative methods, we will tackle fundamental and medically relevant questions regarding the assembly and function of FAs.
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 earth and related environmental sciences geology mineralogy crystallography
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences chemical sciences analytical chemistry mass spectrometry
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology structural biology
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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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant
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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) ERC-2016-COG
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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.
80539 MUNCHEN
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.