Project description
Sequences of amino acids could replace ones and zeros
Information is encoded in many ways in nature as well as synthetically. Sequences of letters form words, sequences of zeros and ones comprise digital data and sequences of amino acids are used to make long-chain proteins. Nature often inspires science, and this is once again the case when it comes to the tremendous and growing amount of data that must be stored and mined in the age of databases and the internet. Polymers made of amino acid building blocks offer an intriguing way to store information, but their exploitation relies on exquisite control over the synthesis of long sequence-ordered polymers, which has proven quite challenging in vitro. The EU-funded POLINFO project is investigating the potential of inducing spontaneous sequence ordering under non-equilibrium conditions via a computational model of theoretical processes, with outcomes that could pave the way for experimental studies.
Objective
Data acquisition and mining is currently the principal driving force of technological advances. Massive expansion of the field requires implementation of new solutions in data storing and retrieving, where targeted solutions need not only be resource-sustainable and recyclable, but also have to posses high information-encoding density to decrease space allocated for storage. Polymers represent natural candidates for the task, as nucleic acids already efficiently encode for vast biological complexity. However, the synthesis of long sequence-ordered polymers in vitro has proven to be challenging and remains an open question. Our project aims to address whether conditions of spontaneous sequence ordering can be achieved under non-equilibrium conditions. To that extent, we build a computational model that bridges a coarse-grained representation of polymer with stochastic kinetics modelling of polymerization and depolymerization reaction. The model is a novel approach to exploring information encoding to polymers, as it is not limited by master equation solution feasibility, and allows, for the first time, to interpret the informational content of the generated sequence through its effect on polymer structure. We explore novel theoretical ideas on non-equilibrium systems that have recently emerged, suggesting that spontaneous ordering of systems takes the path of maximum heat dissipation, which we plan to test for the first time in the context of information generation. In addition, we aim to understand the timescales pertinent to sequence ordering under non-equilibrium conditions, where specifically the concentration number of monomer types is varied in time. Finally, we wish to understand the conditions which allow for creation of autocatalytic self-replicative sequence sets, with emphasis on timescales relevant to this process. Overall, we aim to identify timescales pertinent to generation of ordered sequences, which could pave way to new experimental strategies.
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 nucleic acids
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
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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 - 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.
75794 PARIS
France
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.