Project description
Teamwork paves the way for discovery and application of novel proteins in synthetic biology
The rapid development of techniques to study molecules involved in cell processes is leading to significant new scientific insights. Especially synthetic biology paves the way for novel applications of great socioeconomic relevance, including in the field of green energy. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the RNAct project is training a new generation of researchers in the design of novel RNA-binding proteins for bioanalytics and synthetic biology. The early stage researchers pair up to teach each other about computation and experimentation, and work with academic and industrial partners to participate in innovation activities, accelerating progress in areas of importance to the European bioeconomy.
Objective
RNAct creates an integrated and multidisciplinary training and research programme for 10 broadly employable ESRs with versatile computational and experimental skills. The RNAct research aim is the design of novel RNA recognition motif (RRM) proteins for exploitation in synthetic biology and bio-analytics. This is achieved through a design cycle that starts with computational approaches at the sequence and structure levels of proteins and RNA, in order to select amino acid positions and mutations for large-scale phage display experiments with RNA screening. Viable RRMs will be further investigated at the atomic level with integrative structural biology approaches, and will be applied in synthetic biology, to post-transcriptionally regulate fatty acid processing via RRMs, and in bio-analytics, to detect RNA in-cell and design RNA biochips. The RNAct training will provide ESR-tailored research and education-based training in both topical content and transversal skills. All ESRs will experience both academic and industrial environments, and will be exposed to both computation and experiment at the peer level via an ESR 'buddy' system. The ESRs will be actively involved in, and responsible for, information dissemination and communication for the RNAct project, and will have to opportunity to participate in innovation activities. This will enable the ESRs to constructively contribute to the European bio-economy in both academic and industrial settings.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesnucleic acids
- natural sciencesbiological sciencessynthetic biology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsRNA
- engineering and technologyother engineering and technologiesmicrotechnologymolecular engineering
Keywords
Programme(s)
Coordinator
1050 Bruxelles / Brussel
Belgium