Objective
Research objectives and content
The purpose of the study is to investigate the significance of adenylyl cyclase and phosphodiesterase isotypes expressions in the secretory activity of anterior pituitary corticotrophs. Under stress, mammals secrete corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) which stimulates corticotrophs secretion via adenylyl cyclase activation and cAMP accumulation. Coupling CRF with its receptor may activate one or more cyclase isotypes. The latter are differentially regulated with regard to corticotroph stress-related second messengers (G protein, intracellular calcium ions, protein kinase C). One recently cloned adenylyl cyclase appears to be fundamental with respect to the efficiency of corticosteroid negative feedback. This isotype profile seems altered in the brain and the pituitary by stressors. Similar considerations apply for phosphodiesterases degrading cAMP. The host laboratory has shown the presence of calcium/calmodulin-regulated and rolipram-sensitive phosphodiesterase activity in tumoral corticotrophs, but nothing is known about normal cells.
In principle, the shunting of cAMP metabolism onto pathways independent of calcium ions should render the ACTH response resistant to glucocorticoid inhibition. Preliminary works support this hypothesis. In view of the well known pathological changes of glucocorticoid feedback in variety of psychiatric and endocrine disorders, it is of considerable importance to identify and characterise the elements of cAMP metabolism in adenohypophysial corticotroph cells.
Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact)
The proposed work should shed light on the molecular mechanism(s) of escape from corticosteroid feedback at the pituitary level, which may also prove to be relevant for nerve cells. The applicant will be provided an opportunity to train in molecular biological techniques and biochemical chauactelisation of signal transduction pathways that will complete his knowledge in human cell culture and single cell imaging.
Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)
No link with industry
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 chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkaline earth metals
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences zoology mammalogy
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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.
Topic(s)
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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.
Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
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.
Coordinator
EH8 9JZ Edinburgh
United Kingdom
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.