Project description
Mitochondria cristae remodeling and protein import machinery
The majority of mitochondrial proteins, including mitochondrial matrix and mitochondrial inner membrane (IM) proteins, are imported from the cytosol into the organelle through mitochondrial protein import pathways. The process is facilitated by mitochondrial IM and outer membrane (OM) contact sites. Recent studies have shown that overexpression of the dynamin-related optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) protein protects against IM proton electrochemical gradient loss and is involved in respiratory chain complex stabilisation and cristae remodelling while also present in IM and OM contacts. The EU-funded CRIMIPRIM project hypothesises that OPA1 directly affects mitochondrial protein import pathways. This research will create the possibility to target the import machinery in mitochondria through cristae remodelling as an alternative to treat mitochondrial disorders.
Objective
The majority of mitochondrial proteins are imported from the cytosol into the organelle. The main mitochondrial protein import pathways account for the import of mitochondrial matrix and mitochondrial inner membrane (IM) proteins, e.g. the subunits of the respiratory chain complexes (RCC). This import process is facilitated by mitochondrial IM and outer membrane (OM) contact sites. Furthermore, the aforementioned pathways depend on the IM elechtrochemical gradient and ATP to take place. The host lab showed that mild overexpression of the dynamin-related protein optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) protects against IM proton electrochemical gradient lost upon complex III inhibition. OPA1 is involved in RCC stabilisation and cristae remodeling, but also in mitochondrial IM and outer membrane contacts. Recently, lower levels of mitochondrial import receptor and channels proteins were linked to Parkinson disease. The hypothesis of this proposal is that OPA1 directly influences TIM23 and TIM22 protein import pathways. This fellowship will follow three main aims; a) define the relationship between OPA1 and protein import in models of Leigh syndrome, b) determine cristae integrity in TOM20, TIM23 and TIM22 deficient cells and c) define protein import machinery molecular partners of OPA1. I will use classical biochemistry and BN-PAGE gels to determine the integrity of TIM23 and TIM22 and to assess the mitochondrial import capacity in the mouse models. Next, I will measure by electron microscopy the shape of the cristae and perform detailed morphometric analyses to determine if the protein import plays a role in cristae biogenesis. Finally, using complexomic analysis, I will aim to identify potential import pathway partners of Opa1 and establish their role by their deletion by CrispR/Cas9 in Opa1tg cells. This research will open the possibility to target the import machinery to remodel cristae in mitochondria in an OPA1-dependant manner as an alternative to treat mitochondrial disorders.
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
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron 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.
35122 PADOVA
Italy
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.