Objective
In our cells, DNA is extremely highly compacted to fit within the cell’s nucleus. While being compacted, the DNA still needs to remain accessible to various processes such as gene expression during the cell cycle. So how is DNA spatially organized? How does this compacted DNA interact with enzymes? Does compacted DNA superstructure have a biological role? Answering these daunting biological riddles through a targeted physics approach is the central motive of this proposal. I aim to investigate how supercoiled DNA plectonemes, the basic unit of DNA superstructure found in chromosomes, is linked to its biological functions in gene regulation. Throughout the proposed biophysics experiments in this project, I aim to obtain direct experimental proofs that reveal the mechanism behind the transcription-induced DNA supercoiling. I will co-visualize RNA polymerase interacting with supercoiled DNA in real-time and study the relevant dynamics during complex formation and transcription. To this end I will employ a novel single molecule in-vitro assay, Intercalation-induced Supercoiling of DNA. This assay utilizes intercalating dyes to induce supercoiling as well as to visualize the formation of DNA-plectonemes. The technique is solely based on fluorescence microscopy and allows for tracking DNA plectonemes and labelled enzymes with ease and with high-throughput. This project will provide the first direct evidence on the role of DNA supercoiling – a fundamental yet not-well studied phenomenon in cell biology – in mediating the activity of DNA-binding enzymes as well as on the origins of dynamic DNA supercoiling in the topological domains of the genome. The result of this project will be crucial for the understanding of the physical interactions that couple chromosome organisation to gene regulation.
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 biological sciences cell biology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics chromosomes
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
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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-2017
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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.
2628 CN DELFT
Netherlands
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.