Project description
Study could reveal new insight into phase separation
Living cells rely on the compartmentalisation of thousands of different molecules and their chemical reactions. Many cellular compartments form by phase separation of heteropolymers controlled by sequence-specific interactions and fuel that drives reactions away from equilibrium. The EU-funded FuelledLife project will develop a theory to explain how phase separations in living cells give rise to distinct compartments, in which evolutionary processes, such as the selection and replication of biomolecules, can take place. Such a theory would deepen our understanding of how phase separation of protein condensates can regulate biochemical processes in multicellular organisms. Furthermore, it could elucidate the role of phase separation at the origin of life, and in particular, reveal why modern organisms make use of a restricted set of intracellular compartments.
Objective
Living cells rely on the compartmentalisation of thousands of different molecules and their chemical reactions. Remarkably, many of such compartments form by phase separation of heteropolymers controlled by sequence-specific interactions and fuel that drives reactions away from equilibrium. If we knew how such polymers with sequence-specific interactions evolve and compartmentalise in fuel-driven multi-component mixtures, we would better understand the role of phase separation in living cells and how synthetic or prebiotic cells emerge.
I aim to study how fuel-driven phase separation can drive the selection and replication of hetero-polymers with sequence-specific interactions, the control of their chemical reactions and the emergence and selection of different compartments. My team and I will develop a theory for phase separation and chemical reactions in multi-component mixtures driven away from equilibrium by irreversible, fuel-driven reactions. This theory will provide a link between phenomena on the compartment scale and coarse-grained properties of sequences. First, we will use this theory to study how compartments control biochemical reactions, and how this control is determined by sequence. Second, we will investigate how sequences are selected, replicated and evolve under cyclic, non-equilibrium conditions. Third, we will use our theory to unravel how fuel-driven chemical reactions regulate formation and division of compartments, and affect selection of different compartments within a population. Our theoretical studies will elucidate the physical mechanisms and conditions which will be experimentally scrutinised by our collaborators.
Our results will let us understand how living cells regulate phase separation, like the formation of stress granules by selecting RNA. Moreover, our results will elucidate the role of phase separation for the emergence of life by determining the prerequisites of a protocell to divide, replicate and undergo selection.
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 RNA
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
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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.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)
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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.
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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
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(opens in new window) ERC-2020-STG
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86159 Augsburg
Germany
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