Objective The aim of this grant is to understand how cellular, tissue-scale and organismal left-right asymmetry arisesfrom the chirality of molecular constituents. In many instances the actomyosin cortex, a thin andmechanically active layer of dynamically cross-linked filaments and molecular motors at the surface of cells,drives the emergence of chiral morphogenetic events. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, mesoscalechiral active torques generated by this active layer establish the embryo’s left-right body axis. Here we wantto understand how mesoscale actomyosin active torques are generated at the molecular level, and how activetorque generation in the actomyosin surface drives chiral morphogenesis of cells, tissues and organisms.Cells and tissues represent a new class of active chiral materials where both the force and the torque balanceneed to be considered, and we will perform a systematic and cross-scale characterization of active chiralbiological matter. We will pursue an interdisciplinary approach at the interface of physics and biology. At themolecular-scale, we will use optical tweezers to measure active torques generated by single molecules of themolecular myosin and the actin polymerizing protein formin. At the cell-scale, we will reconstitute chiralactomyosin flows in vitro and characterize chiral dynamics of single molecules in vivo. At the tissue-scale,we will investigate chiral cell movements in a multicellular environment and unravel the physical basis ofchiral tissue flow in vertebrates. Theory is essential at all stages, and we will build a molecular-scale modelof actomyosin torque generation that will be coarse-grained to a generalized hydrodynamic description ofactive chiral matter. This interdisciplinary and cross-scale approach will provide fundamentally new insightsinto active chiral materials and the mechanisms by which left-right asymmetries arise in development. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsmedical and health sciencesclinical medicineembryology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2016-ADG - ERC Advanced Grant Call for proposal ERC-2016-ADG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant Coordinator TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET DRESDEN Net EU contribution € 2 500 000,00 Address Helmholtzstrasse 10 01069 Dresden Germany See on map Region Sachsen Dresden Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments 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 TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET DRESDEN Germany Net EU contribution € 2 500 000,00 Address Helmholtzstrasse 10 01069 Dresden See on map Region Sachsen Dresden Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments 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
