Project description DEENESFRITPL Insight into the origins of life Before the emergence of life on our planet, metabolic-like chemical reactions were likely catalysed, in part, by metals as opposed to protein enzymes. However, it remains unknown how such processes could have led to the development of cell-like structures and the evolution of life as we know it today. To shed light on these questions, the EU-funded ProtoMet project aims to reconstitute protocellular compartments in vitro and recapitulate specific metabolic processes that may have taken place billions of years ago. Project results will help solve mysteries surrounding the origin of life and provide a deeper understanding of the chemical underpinnings of extant biology. Additionally, they will aid efforts in developing new life-like technologies. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Understanding how prebiotic chemistry gave rise to life as we know it represents one of the greatest enduring mysteries. The complete absence of a historical record requires the collaboration of scientists from different disciplines with access to advanced tools in order to make any meaningful progress. Here, we plan to exploit this tremendous challenge to train a new generation of scientists to think big, but also to work methodically and logically alongside colleagues from academia and industry. Eight Early-Stage Researchers (ESRs) will be recruited to work in laboratories with expertise in systems chemistry, synthetic biology, microfluidics, and science philosophy to develop together a reconstituted protometabolism within compartments consisting of coacervates, vesicles, coacervate containing vesicles, and compartments etched into microfluidic chips. The underlying protometabolism will be composed of triose glycolysis and a reverse citric acid cycle and will be regulated by (metallo)peptide catalysts. Importantly, the protometabolism will support the maintenance of the compartment that houses the protocell. The ESRs that primarily focus on the construction of compartments that mimic protocellular structures will gain firsthand experience in how their formulations could be exploited as drug delivery vehicles through secondments at partner organizations. Similarly, the ESRs that develop (metallo)peptide catalysts will apply their newfound skills to the development of drug molecules through a secondment at a company that specializes in metallodrug formulations. Ultimately, by becoming experts in elucidating the chemical underpinnings of all known living cells, the ESRs will be extremely well positioned to enter a wide variety of research fields from synthetic biology to medicinal chemistry in either industry or academia. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidicsnatural sciencesbiological sciencessynthetic biologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinemedicinal chemistrynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysis Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.1. - Fostering new skills by means of excellent initial training of researchers Topic(s) MSCA-ITN-2018 - Innovative Training Networks Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-ITN-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-ITN-ETN - European Training Networks Coordinator UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TRENTO Net EU contribution € 261 499,68 Address Via calepina 14 38122 Trento Italy See on map Region Nord-Est Provincia Autonoma di Trento Trento Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV Germany Net EU contribution € 252 788,40 Address Hofgartenstrasse 8 80539 Munchen See on map Region Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 303 172,56 Address Gower street WC1E 6BT London See on map Region London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH Switzerland Net EU contribution € 281 276,64 Address Raemistrasse 101 8092 Zuerich See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Zürich Zürich Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 UNIVERSIDAD DEL PAIS VASCO/ EUSKAL HERRIKO UNIBERTSITATEA Spain Net EU contribution € 250 904,88 Address Barrio sarriena s n 48940 Leioa See on map Region Noreste País Vasco Bizkaia Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 UNIVERSITE DE STRASBOURG France Net EU contribution € 274 802,04 Address Rue blaise pascal 4 67081 Strasbourg See on map Region Grand Est Alsace Bas-Rhin Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 ELVESYS France Net EU contribution € 506 857,10 Address 172 rue de charonne b2 2 eme etage 75011 Paris See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 CHERRY BIOTECH Participation ended France Net EU contribution € 42 746,98 Address 2eme etage, halls a-b et c14 rue de la beaune 93100 Montreuil See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Seine-Saint-Denis Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Partners (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. METALLOPHARM LLC United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address 1790 riverstonedrive OH 43015 Delaware See on map Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. NANOVEX BIOTECHNOLOGIES SL Spain Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Parque tecnologico de asturias 33428 Llanera See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Noroeste Principado de Asturias Asturias Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Partner Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement. KUTXAGESTION ZERBITZUAK S.L. Spain Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Paseo mikeletegi 45 20009 San sebastian See on map Region Noreste País Vasco Gipuzkoa Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
