Objective
Telomeres are specialised nucleoprotein structures that protect chromosome ends from degradation and promiscuous DNA repair activities. Critically short telomeres give rise to Dyskeratosis Congenita and Hoyeraal-Hreidarrson Syndrome (HHS), highlighting the clinical importance of maintaining telomeres. Telomeres also progressively shorten with each cell division, eventually triggering cellular senescence. Although telomerase is able to extend telomeres to solve the “end replication problem”, its re-expression is a major route to cancer cell immortalization. Hence, telomeres and telomerase must be subject to exquisite regulation to maintain telomere homeostasis and organismal function. We have previously implicated the Fe-S helicase RTEL1 in maintaining vertebrate telomeres, which is frequently mutated in HHS. In this ERC proposal, we will employ proteomic methods, super-resolution microscopy, biochemistry and genetic approaches to: i) investigate why telomerase is the cause of telomere dysfunction in the absence of Rtel1, ii) how RTEL1 is controlled during the cell cycle, and iii) how this process is compromised by Rtel1 mutations in HHS. By establishing quantitative PICh to interrogate telomere composition in unprecedented detail, we have uncovered an unappreciated compensation between RTEL1 and ATRX at telomeres and also identified SLX4IP as a key regulator of telomere recombination, which we will characterize at a mechanistic level. We will extend our expertise in quantitative PICh and genome-wide CRISPR screens to identify novel factors that respond to or are lost from telomeres as a result of: i) induction of DNA damage at telomeres, ii) inhibition of p97 segregase, and iii) the onset of senescence. Our proposal will lead to a greater understanding of the causes/consequences of telomere dysfunction in multiple contexts, the factors that mitigate these effects to maintain telomere homeostasis and how these processes are compromised in human diseases.
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 genetics DNA
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy super resolution microscopy
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics chromosomes
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
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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.
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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-ADG - Advanced 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-ADG
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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.
NW1 1AT London
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.