Objective
The overall objective of this project is to determine the three-dimensional structure of the prototypic neurotransmitter receptor, the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), at high resolution, in order to understand the structural basis of ion channel function, using advanced electron crystallographic, NMR and X-ray crystallographic methods, combined with monoclonal antibody and ligand labelling. Currently, the best available image of a neurotransmitter receptor is that of the AChR at 7.5A resolution, obtained by one of the participating laboratories. Imaging this model ion channel at high resolution requires further development of the available technologies.
We aim to improve the overall structural description of the receptor molecule, to identify specific critical sites of the molecule, to find out how this ion channel achieves its specific ion selectivity and transport rates and to understand, in physical terms, how it opens, closes and desensitizes in response to acetylcholine. Our objectives will be achieved by the further development, application, and combination of advances in technologies we have recently developed. These include a wide variety of biochemical and biophysical techniques, i.e. improved 2D-crystals, new routes of 2D crystallization, region-selective crystallization, efficient correction of distortions in the 2D crystals, demi-automatic acquisition of electron crystallographic data, trapping of different conformational states, 2D- and 3D-NMR, recombinant monoclonal antibodies, soluble recombinant polypeptides and powerful instrumentation.
Our objectives will be mediated by the following work-packages: a. Production of recombinant monoclonal antibody fragments for use as tools. b. 2D-crystallization of AChR in native membranes and artificial lipid layers. c. Three-dimensional subunit and epitope localization (by electron microscopy). d. High resolution structure of closed AChR channels (by electron microscopy). e. Imaging the open and desensitized allosteric states of the AChR (by electron microscopy).
f. Conformation of tyrosine phosphorylation sites of the AChR (by 2D-, 3D-NMR a X-ray crystallography).
g. Conformation of recombinant AChR polypeptides (by 2D-, 3D-NMR and X-ray crystallography).
h. Construction of a detailed atomic model of the AChR by the combined results o all the above work-packages. These objectives will require close collaboration between four research groups (in Athens, Cambridge, Groningen and Nancy) of complementary expertise.
In addition to the detailed information that will be obtained (also applicable rational modelling of similar receptors), the achieved technical advancements should pave the way to similar studies on other less abundant neurotransmitter receptors, as well as to the study of other membrane proteins and large complex
The in depth understanding of the structure-function relationship of neurotransmitter receptors will be catalytic to numerous more applied studies in syn function and dysfunction.
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.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques.
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesgeologymineralogycrystallography
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteins
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyelectron microscopy
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipids
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Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
11521 ATHENS
Greece