Objective
The circadian clock is the biological mechanism that directs the physiological ~24 hour oscillations that most living organisms undergo to anticipate the daily pattern of light. In mammals, that rhythmicity results from a highly conserved genetic circuit –based on transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation– that works synchronously at a cellular level and differs among tissues. Around the 10% of the mammalian proteins, including essential components of the cell cycle and differentiation pathways have been categorised as circadian. Thus, a clock dysregulation may have pathological consequences, which is the case in some types of cancer.
Although synchronous circadian cells share a common mechanical microenvironment, the contribution of mechanics to the clock maintenance has never been addressed. To fill this gap, the aim of this project is to unravel a) the impact of the mechanical microenvironment on the cellular clock, b) the influence of circadian oscillations on the mechanical behaviour of the cells and c), the interplay between mechanics and the clock during stem cell differentiation. To achieve these goals, we will combine state-of-the-art technologies in cell mechanics, molecular biology, imaging, and computational modelling. As model system we will use entrained MCF-10a and PHK stem cells. By subjecting them to a range of extracellular matrix rigidities, we will measure the influence of mechanics on the circadian expression of core clock, cytoskeleton and differentiation genes. We will then use traction force microscopy to study the rhythmicity of cell mechanics and, through computational tools, we will link gene expression patterns and force oscillatory behaviour in order to elucidate the molecular basis of the ‘biomechanical clock’.
This interdisciplinary study will add a new layer of regulation to both cell mechanics and the circadian clock. As such, the results obtained here will potentially impact on the field of chronomedicine.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies stem cells
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular 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.1.3. - 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-2016
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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.
08028 Barcelona
Spain
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.