Project description DEENESFRITPL 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. Show the project objective Hide the project objective 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 natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsproteomicsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryamines Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.2. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Main Programme H2020-EU.1.2.1. - FET Open Topic(s) FETOPEN-01-2018-2019-2020 - FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking Call for proposal H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2019-2020-01 Funding Scheme RIA - Research and Innovation action Coordinator UNIVERSITAETSMEDIZIN GOETTINGEN - GEORG-AUGUST-UNIVERSITAET GOETTINGEN - STIFTUNG OEFFENTLICHEN RECHTS Net EU contribution € 857 190,00 Address Robert-koch-strasse 40 37075 Goettingen Germany See on map Region Niedersachsen Braunschweig Göttingen Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 Participants (3) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all BAR ILAN UNIVERSITY Israel Net EU contribution € 1 012 500,00 Address Bar ilan university campus 52900 Ramat gan See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 NANOTAG BIOTECHNOLOGIES GMBH Germany Net EU contribution € 1 056 666,25 Address Rudolf wissell strasse 28a 37079 Gottingen See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Niedersachsen Braunschweig Göttingen Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00 KUNGLIGA TEKNISKA HOEGSKOLAN Sweden Net EU contribution € 769 625,00 Address Brinellvagen 8 100 44 Stockholm See on map Region Östra Sverige Stockholm Stockholms län Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
