Objective
The mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) is a master regulator of cell growth and metabolism in response to environmental cues, such as nutrients. Its dysregulation is a common feature of several life-threatening disorders, including cancer and metabolic disease. Therefore, understanding how mTORC1 is regulated is of great importance for both basic and translational research.
The availability of Amino Acids (AA) is a prerequisite for cell growth, hence a robust mTORC1 regulator. Previous studies on how AA regulate mTORC1 have mainly focused on the lysosomal Rag GTPases and built a complex protein network that coordinatively senses AA to modify Rag activity. According to the current model, AA sufficiency leads to Rag activation, which in turn recruit mTORC1 to the lysosomal surface, where its direct activator Rheb also resides.
Although this machinery is indeed important for acute mTORC1 re-activation upon AA re-addition, my preliminary work suggests that additional, Rag-independent mechanisms also exist and have a predominant role to activate mTORC1 in unchallenged cells or following longer re-activation times. In line with this, Rag knockout cells show persistent steady-state mTORC1 activity and grow similarly to their WT counterparts.
In stark contrast to previous approaches, this project aims to elucidate the Rag-independent modes of mTORC1 regulation by AA. To achieve this goal, I will 1) use WT and Rag-mutant cells to study the mechanistic differences of basal mTORC1 activation vs. acute re-activation, and 2) identify novel mTORC1 regulators/interactors in Rag-mutant cells, using biochemical assays, proteomic approaches and functional RNAi screens, to build part of the Rag-independent mTOR regulatory network.
Overall, this work will identify new mechanisms and principles of mTORC1 activation and thus expand our view on how AA control mTORC1 activity. In addition, it will provide novel mTORC1 regulators, as putative targets for drug development against mTOR-related 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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug discovery
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry amines
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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-STG - Starting 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-2017-STG
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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.