Project description
Plug and play enzymatic modules could lead to bioengineering of completely new molecules
All cells continuously produce molecules necessary to carry out their diverse functions. Enzymes are protein catalysts, often critical components of the production process. Polyketide synthases (PKSs) are a family of multi-domain enzymes or enzyme complexes that produce a seemingly endless variety of secondary metabolites. They are widely distributed in bacteria, fungi and plants where their modular structure serves as a sort of assembly line for delivery of natural products. Harnessing that modular structure, with the potential to 'plug and play' different modules to create novel compounds of commercial and therapeutic value, requires detailed understanding of the modules. AL4BIOCH is using Nobel prize-winning cryo-electron microscopy and other techniques to elucidate their structure and function.
Objective
Polyketide Synthases (PKS) are biological factories for the production of potent natural products, including antibiotics, anti‐cancer drugs, statins and further drugs. The exceptional chemical diversity generated by PKS is encoded in their modular architecture. The domains required for one step of precursor elongation and modification are combined into a functional polypeptide module. PKS modules can either act iteratively (iPKS) or in a linearly organized assembly line of multiple modules (modPKS). The collinearity between synthesis and protein sequence in modPKS promised the opportunity for rational re‐engineering of PKS at the genetic level in order to produce novel compounds. However, information on functional protein-protein interactions and substrate transfer in PKS beyond the level of isolated domains is sparse and divergent architectural models of module organization have been proposed. In the AL2BIOCH project, we aim to reveal the fundamental intermodular assembly line organization underlying the unique biosynthetic generation of chemical diversity by modPKS. For this purpose, we employ cryo-electron microscopy to comprehensively study the organization of modPKS bimodules as minimal representations of assembly lines organization. In combination with functional analysis, biophysical studies and chemoenzymatic trapping we address the architectures underlying directed substrate transfer. The research builds on modern and rapidly evolving techniques, including cryo electron microscopy, advanced optical imaging and biophysics, as well as chemical probes, which are most relevant for front-line molecular biology research. Success in this project will allow the host lab and organization to establish new collaborations for translating insights on modPKS architecture for the design of novel or re-engineered assembly lines for the generation of advanced chemical compounds and drug candidates.
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.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron microscopy
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics mathematical analysis functional analysis
- natural sciences biological sciences biophysics
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology
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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.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
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.
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
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.
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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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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.
4051 Basel
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.