Project description
Real-time imaging of DNA G-quadruplexes
DNA sequences rich in guanine nucleotides form tetrameric structures known as G-quadruplexes with potential biological roles in telomere function and maintenance, replication and transcription. However, we lack the tools to visualise G-quadruplexes directly in live cells. To address this issue, the EU-funded PLIM-G4 project proposes to develop optical probes that interact with different DNA topologies and upon doing so, their emission lifetime changes in a topology-dependent manner. Optimisation of the properties of these probes will enable the real-time imaging of G-quadruplexes in live cells, allowing to unveil novel information on the role and the dynamics of G-quadruplexes in biological processes.
Objective
There has been increasing experimental evidence suggesting that tetra-stranded DNA structures (G-quadruplexes) play important biological roles in telomere function and maintenance, replication and transcription. The most direct evidence for their existence has come from immuno-staining in fixed cells as well as from recent deep sequencing studies. However, to date, we are still lacking tools that allows us to visualizing G-quadruplexes directly in live cells. While several small-molecule probes that fluoresce upon interaction with DNA have been reported, none of them have been successful at imaging G-quadruplexes in a cellular environment. This is mainly due to the fact that they rely on changes in intensity which are not possible to track properly in a cellular environment. Recently, the host lab reported a novel strategy to image G-quadruplexes in live cells. This approach makes use of the changes in emission lifetime (rather than intensity) of optical probes upon their interaction with different topologies of DNA. Since life-time is concentration independent, this approach can be successfully used to image G-quadruplexes in live cells. While this has proven to be a highly successful approach, it is still in its infancy since the probe developed so far has a number of limitations such as low brightness, relatively small lifetime range and low selectivity. Thus, this project aims to develop a new set of probes that address all these issues and use them to image the dynamics of G-quadruplexes in live cells in real time. I propose to develop platinum complexes (which 'switch-on' their phosphorescent upon interactions with DNA) with high affinity and selectivity for G-quadruplexes. To achieve this, novel approaches for automated synthesis and high-throughput analysis will be developed. The new probes will be used to carry out Phosphorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy (PLIM) studies to give evidence for the first time of the dynamics of G-quadruplexes in live cells.
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 genetics DNA
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics topology
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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-2019
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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.
SW7 2AZ London
United Kingdom
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.