Project description
High-throughput imaging of proteins using nanobodies
The conventional detection of proteins by imaging employs fluorophores or antibodies directed at individual proteins. However, this methodology cannot be upscaled and employed in a high-throughput omics approach. The EU-funded IMAGEOMICS project aims to address this limitation through affinity probes that bind to specific peptide sequences located in more than one protein. Scientists will develop nanobodies that bind to such peptides and use them to label biological samples. The IMAGEOMICS strategy will provide information on the whole proteome of cells and tissues, paving the way for improved diagnostics for various diseases.
Objective
The key principle of biological imaging is specific labeling. The protein of interest is revealed by tagging with fluorophores, either by genetic encoding, using green-fluorescent-protein (GFP) variants, or by affinity labeling, using antibodies. This procedure has been successful for several decades, but has the great disadvantage that each protein needs to be tagged individually: specific antibodies are needed for each and every protein. This limitation stops imaging from becoming a high-throughput “omics” approach. We propose to change this here, through an imageomics approach based on a combination of probe development and nanoscale imaging. We will develop affinity probes that bind with high specificity not to specific proteins, but to amino acid sequences (peptides) that are present in more than one protein. We will choose 20-40 such peptides, in a fashion that ensures that virtually every protein in the human proteome contains a specific subset of the peptides. We will then develop nanobodies that bind to each of these peptides. We prefer nanobodies to antibodies, based on their small size and optimal penetration into biological samples. We will then use the nanobodies to label biological samples, and we will image them at the nanoscale, with a resolution that is sufficient to reveal single proteins. By applying the nanobodies in a combinatorial fashion, we will “read” the sequence of each protein in the preparation, which will result in an image of its whole proteome. We will start by applying this approach to 2-dimensional samples, such as fluids adsorbed to coverslips. This will lay the foundation for future diagnostic studies for a variety of human diseases, based on human fluids such as plasma or cerebrospinal fluid. In a later stage, we will proceed to analyze cells and tissues, by generating 3-dimensional proteomic images. This approach will make antibody-based imaging, blotting and diagnostics obsolete, and has therfore an immense potential.
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.
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
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.
-
H2020-EU.1.2. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.2.1. - FET Open
See all projects funded under this programme
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.
RIA - Research and Innovation action
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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-FETOPEN-2018-2020
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
37075 Goettingen
Germany
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.