Objective Research objectives and content Programmed Cell Death (PCD) is crucial to animal development and tissue homeostasis. Several diseases involve dysregulation of PCD. Genes controlling PCD in vertebrates, nematodes and Drosophila have been isolated. The slime mould Dictyostelium represents the earliest known occurrence in eukaryotic evolution of PCD in multicellular development. Cells secrete DIF that contributes to induce part of the population to differentiate into dead stalk cells, supporting viablc spores. Certain PCD phenomena of stalk cell formation are similar to those in higher eukaryotes. This project will i.use genetic tractability of Dictyostelium to identify genes encoding molecules required for Dictyostelium PCD, ii. establish the precise function of these genes, and iii. investigate whether homologs of these genes have similar functions in higher eukaryotes. Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact) I will learn to apply, together with usual molecular biology techniques, a variety of up-to-date techniques such as tagged mutagenesis, confocal scanning laser microscopy, cell fractionation and enzyme assays, to identify and characterize genes and their cognate proteins involved in signal transduction and execution of PCD. The training allows me to pursue a career in fundamental or applied research, for example in the fields of developmental biology, cancer or AIDS. Links with industry / industrial relevance (22) Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesdevelopmental biologynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymesnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesmolecular biology Programme(s) FP4-TMR - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of the training and mobility of researchers, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0302 - Post-doctoral research training grants TL06 - Developmental Biology Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships) Coordinator CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE EU contribution No data Address Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy 13288 MARSEILLE France See on map Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Not available Netherlands EU contribution No data Address See on map Total cost No data
