Descrizione del progetto
Comprendere le origini della vita
Prima della comparsa della vita sul nostro pianeta, le reazioni chimiche di tipo metabolico erano probabilmente catalizzate, in parte, da metalli piuttosto che da enzimi proteici. Tuttavia, resta da capire come tali processi abbiano potuto portare allo sviluppo di strutture simili alle cellule e all’evoluzione della vita così come la conosciamo oggi. Per far luce su questi interrogativi, il progetto ProtoMet, finanziato dall’UE, intende ricostituire compartimenti protocellulari in vitro e ricapitolare processi metabolici specifici che potrebbero aver avuto luogo miliardi di anni fa. I risultati del progetto contribuiranno a risolvere i misteri che circondano l’origine della vita e permetteranno di comprendere in maniera più approfondita i fondamenti chimici della biologia attuale. Inoltre, concorreranno allo sviluppo di nuove tecnologie capaci di riprodurre la vita.
Obiettivo
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.
Campo scientifico
Parole chiave
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Meccanismo di finanziamento
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinatore
38122 Trento
Italia