Project description
Molecular mechanisms of lunar clocks
Living organisms have biological clocks for adjusting behaviour and body functions to the regular changes in the environment. The 24 hours circadian clock is well understood at the molecular level. However, the mechanisms of tidal clocks, lunar clocks, and annual clocks are largely unknown. The EU-funded EVOCLOCK aims to identify mechanisms of the lunar clock in the marine insect C. marinus which times its reproduction to the lowest low tides around the new and full moon. Using C. marinus strains with different lunar clocks can help to identify the associated regulatory molecules. The project objectives include establishing tools to manipulate C. marinus at the molecular level, characterising its gene repertoire, nervous system, and the receptors involved in the tides and lunar phases.
Objective
Circalunar clocks are endogenous biological clocks, which allow organisms to time development and reproduction to lunar phase. They are common in marine organisms, but their molecular basis is still entirely unknown. Candidate gene approaches have failed so far. In the marine midge Clunio marinus (Diptera: Chironomidae), I can elegantly overcome this problem by exploiting an array of local genetic adaptations in circalunar timing. Through evolutionary analysis, QTL mapping and genome screens my group currently produces evidence-based circalunar candidate genes without any need for prior knowledge or assumptions.
In this ERC proposal, I aim to take this work to the next level and identify the molecular and cellular basis of circalunar clocks. I will establish molecular tools for Clunio and use them to confirm and characterize circalunar clock candidate genes. Specifically, I aim to: (WP1) Establish genome editing and confirm candidate genes via knockout and allelic replacement. (WP2) Study gene expression modules across the lunar cycle and identify the transcriptional regulators that exert circalunar control on development and maturation. (WP3) Describe Clunio’s larval nervous system and trace circalunar clock sensory input pathways to their convergence point. This will identify the cellular substrate of the circalunar clock. (WP4) Settle the on-going debate on the role of circadian clocks in circalunar timing. I will particularly study the role of the famous period gene.
In the future, this molecular endeavour will also boost evolutionary work: Clunio will provide insights into fundamental questions, such as the role of genome architecture in local adaptation. But immediately, unravelling the molecular basis of circalunar clocks will be a breakthrough in chronobiology. It will inspire new ideas and experiments. Comparing circalunar to circadian clocks, we will for the first time be able to see basic principles in the molecular design of biological clocks.
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.
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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.
This project's classification has been validated by the project's team.
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)
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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
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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
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2018-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
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