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At the epigenetics-cancer metabolism interface

Project description

Integration of epigenetics and cancer metabolism

Understanding the connection between metabolism and epigenetic regulation is an emerging theme in cancer research. Recent evidence points out that production of certain metabolites and their compartmentalisation may regulate specific intracellular processes. This EU-funded project will investigate how the localisation of enzymatic activity on the chromatin integrates chromatin remodelling and cancer metabolism. Research is going to define epigenetic modifications and investigate their relevance in cancer cell proliferation. Simultaneously, they will screen for the interactors of the defined metabolic modifications. Final validation of the results will be performed in in vivo cancer models, contributing to fundamental knowledge on cancer biology and in identifying new potential therapeutic targets.

Objective

Epigenetic regulation and metabolism are of great interest in cancer research. However, physical and functional connections between these two areas remain largely unexplored. While it is commonly believed that metabolites can randomly distribute inside the cell, recent evidence rather favors the hypothesis that production of certain metabolites in specific subcellular compartments orchestrates different cellular processes. EPICAMENTE aims at exploring whether the localization of enzymatic activities on chromatin can integrate cancer metabolism with chromatin remodeling to control epigenetic regulation and tumor progression. First, I aim at providing a dataset of chromatin-bound metabolic enzymes in a comprehensive panel of cancer cell lines. By combining a chromatin fluorescent reporter cell line strategy with epigenomic approaches, I will define the epigenetic and transcriptional scenarios orchestrated by chromatin-bound metabolic enzymes, and investigate their relevance in cancer cell proliferation. Performing genetic screenings with the chromatin fluorescent reporter cell lines will allow the identification of genetic interactors mediating the epigenetic role of chromatin-bound metabolic enzymes. In parallel, I aim to screen for small molecules able to counteract the epigenetic states mediated by those metabolic enzymes. Finally, I will validate my results in in vivo cancer models, thus adding an important translational aspect to the project, and opening up new opportunities for cancer therapy. The success of this project can impact our fundamental understanding of cellular and cancer biology. In most cases, the belief is that intracellular materials reside inside steady-state membrane-based compartments, which limit the interactions between different molecular pathways. By describing the role of chromatin-bound metabolic enzymes and discovering direct connections between cancer metabolism and epigenetic regulation, I will scrutinize this belief.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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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.

ERC-STG - Starting Grant

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2019-STG

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Host institution

FUNDACIO CENTRE DE REGULACIO GENOMICA
Net EU contribution

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.

€ 1 996 904,00
Address
CARRER DOCTOR AIGUADER 88
08003 Barcelona
Spain

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Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Research Organisations
Links
Total cost

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.

€ 1 996 904,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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