Objective
During development of the nervous system, axonal growth, neuronal migration and synapse formation are essential. As the embryonic nervous system differentiates, neurons produce axons that travel through diverse and changing environments of the developing animal to find their appropriate targets. When target cells are reached, synapses are formed. Synaptic plasticity is important, not only during establishment of the neural network, but also in the adult organism in which a continuous modulation of synaptic connections is essential for the dynamic functions of the brain such as learning and memory storage. An understanding of the molecular basis of axonal growth and guidance both during normal development and in relation to brain diseases is therefore an important issue in developmental neurobiology as well as in clinical neurology and neuropathology.
The aims of the proposed collaboration are to provide an extensive characterization of a key molecule, the neural cell adhesion molecule L1, involved in axonal growth, neuronal migration and synaptic plasticity. The characterization includes localization of binding sites for the homophilic (L1) and heterophilic ligands the cell adhesion molecules Axonin- 1, F11, NCAM and laminin. Furthermore, L1 interaction with the fibroblast growth factor receptor, which probably mediates signal transduction, will be characterised in detail. The binding sites will be characterised in regard to their localization, structure and binding affinities, thus enabling the preparation of agonistic and antagonistic ligands, which may allow the development of compounds beneficial for the treatment of neuro-degenerative disorders. The proposed collaboration involves seven leading European laboratories, six academic and one industrial laboratory. The partners will combine different fields, disciplines and techniques in order to exploit complementary approaches in an integrated manner allowing the achievement of results, which cannot otherwise be obtained. The collaboration will also contain a training element in molecular biological and pharmacological methodology, and it is intended to develop theoretical and practical insights and strategies by means of a progressive series of intensive workshops. By the conclusion of the project, we expect to have identified the major macromolecular ligands of L1, and to have determined their binding sites, binding affinities and effects. Ligands, fragments of ligands and artificial ligands will have been prepared and tested for agonistic and antagonistic effects in-vitro and in-vivo. Finally, these findings will be disseminated by specialist, review and popular articles and conference presentations, providing a platform for future pharmacological developments in the fields of neurodegenerative disorders.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencescell biology
- medical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurology
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineclinical neurology
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencecomputational intelligence
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
2200 KOEPENHAGEN
Denmark