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Synthetic biology of carbohydrate-binding proteins: engineering protein-carbohydrate interactions for diagnostics and cell targeting

Descrizione del progetto

Sfruttare le interazioni tra proteine e carboidrati a livello cellulare

Le membrane cellulari contengono glicolipidi e glicoproteine costituiti da componenti zuccherini che si estendono fino alla superficie esterna della cellula, formando un denso strato noto come glicocalice. Il glicocalice svolge un ruolo attivo nell’adesione cellulare e nell’endocitosi, mentre può fungere anche da biomarcatore per la trasformazione neoplastica. Questo ruolo emergente del glicocalice indica che potrebbe essere sfruttato per finalità di diagnosi e terapia. La missione del progetto synBIOcarb, finanziato dall’UE, è quella di formare la prossima generazione di esperti in materia di glicoscienza e ingegneria delle glicoproteine. Oltre a fornire conoscenze fondamentali in processi biologici chiave e meccanismi di malattia, il progetto impiegherà tecnologie sintetiche per produrre nuovi complessi molecolari con applicazioni diverse.

Obiettivo

The aim of the Initial Training Network will be to train 15 early stage researchers in the emerging field of synthetic glycobiology, equipping them with the skills needed for future careers in the medical technologies sector.
Every living cell is covered in a coating of complex carbohydrates known as the glycocalyx. Anything that approaches the cell membrane must first descend through this forest of carbohydrates. Interactions between carbohydrates and lectins (carbohydrate-binding proteins) play essential roles in cell adhesion and endocytosis. Our growing understanding of glycoscience, and the advent of chemical and synthetic biology methodologies, presents an opportunity to redesign, synthesise and exploit glycocalyx and lectin components for diverse analytical, diagnostic and targeted therapeutic applications: this is the field of Synthetic Glycobiology.
The ESF-funded report, “A Roadmap for Glycosicence in Europe”, has highlighted the importance of glycoscience to the European bioeconomy. The European glycomics market is growing rapidly (>10% growth p.a.). There is an urgent need to train ESRs with the scientific and entrepreneurial skills required to enable European industry to exploit this rapidly growing market.
The synBIOcarb ETN brings together a diverse team of chemists, structural biologists, biophysicists, cell biologists and protein engineers who are pioneering the development of Synthetic Glycobiology, and four SMEs that are leading industrial innovation in glycoscience and protein engineering. Together, we will train 15 ESRs in the essential enabling technologies that underpin the development and exploitation of glycoscience: glycoconjugate synthesis; lectin engineering; biophysical interaction measurements; cell biology; analytical device technologies; entrepreneurial and transferable skills.

Coordinatore

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
Contribution nette de l'UE
€ 909 517,68
Indirizzo
WOODHOUSE LANE
LS2 9JT Leeds
Regno Unito

Mostra sulla mappa

Regione
Yorkshire and the Humber West Yorkshire Leeds
Tipo di attività
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Collegamenti
Costo totale
€ 909 517,68

Partecipanti (8)

Partner (6)