Objective
The production of fully functional ribosomes is vital for every cell, with failure causing human diseases called ribosomopathies. Eukaryotic ribosome assembly is catalyzed by ~200 assembly factors that guarantee efficient and accurate production of ribosomal subunits along a temporally and spatially ordered pathway. About one third of these factors are utilized in the formation of the earliest biogenesis intermediate, termed 90S pre-ribosome or small subunit processome. Recent insight into the 90S structure from a eukaryotic thermophile, Chaetomium thermophilum, has provided a first spatial impression on this most sophisticated process, which includes co-transcriptional RNA folding and processing, and incorporation of ribosomal proteins. Our key discovery was that the nascent ribosomal RNA, which if linear would form a long thread, is co-transcriptionally mounted into a mold formed by a highly interconnected RNA-protein scaffold on the 90S pre-ribosome. This finding raises a novel concept in RNA biology that nascent RNA folds and matures in a protected environment, which is reminiscent of protein folding that can also occur in folding chambers. I plan to challenge the idea that the 90S particle indeed encapsulates the RNA transiently, in order to protect it from unproductive interactions, allowing stepwise folding and maturation in a cascade of interdependent reactions and the involvement of energy-consuming enzymes. The groundbreaking aim of this proposal is to decipher how these processes occur in an encapsulated environment, using C. thermophilum as a model organism. This high-risk project will depend on the successful establishment of novel assays that recapitulate eukaryotic ribosome assembly in vitro, exploiting the thermostable nature of the 90S pre-ribosome. Mechanistic insight into ribosome biogenesis will lead to a better understanding of how this multifaceted process is linked to other key cellular pathways and development of diseases including cancer.
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 biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins protein folding
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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-ADG - Advanced Grant
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-ADG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
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.
69117 Heidelberg
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.