Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Mitotic scaling to cell size diversity during vertebrate embryonic development

Objective

Cell division is a common process to all cell types in a multicellular organism. During mitosis, equal chromosome segregation in anaphase is regulated by an Aurora B phosphorylation gradient, centered at the midplane between the two chromosome sets. The gradient gives positional information that allows nuclear envelope reformation (NER) only when chromosomes are far enough from the kinase activity. Considering the 120μm human zygote and a 15μm fibroblast, how can the gradient scale with cell size over such wide range of sizes?
To unravel the scaling mechanism, I will measure the biophysical parameters of this phosphorylation gradient using a FRET sensor and optogenetics to manipulate the gradient with fast spatiotemporal kinetics. I will address three key questions:
i) Does the gradient sense cell size? ii) If so, how is size information used to scale the gradient? iii) How is gradient scaling translated into NER positioning?
I will focus on three zebrafish cell systems with extreme sizes and dynamics: 1) embryonic cleavage divisions, where cell size halves with every cell division; 2) EVL cells, which are stretched quickly into flatter cell sizes, implying fast scaling dynamics; 3) asymmetric division in neuronal precursor cells, where the two sides of the spindle midzone must scale differently to generate daughters of different sizes. With this approach, I will generate unprecedented information on the regulation of anaphase chromosome separation in its natural context. This entry point in anaphase will provide a conceptual frame and a tool kit to address a more general problem: how do other mitotic machineries scale with cell size? A wider question for my long-term future research.

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.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

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.

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.

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

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.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2017

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITE DE GENEVE
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 187 419,60
Address
RUE DU GENERAL DUFOUR 24
1211 Geneve
Switzerland

See on map

Region
Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Genève
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

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.

€ 187 419,60
My booklet 0 0