Objective
Research objectives and content
The nitrogen fixation gene control is one of the tightest regulated systems in bacteria. The transcription of the structural genes (nifHDKTY) is activated through the RpoN-dependent transcriptional activator, NifA. In addition, there seems to be a posttranscriptional control involving the stabilization of the nitrogenase mRNAs depending on the NifA activity whose mechanism has not been determined. We would try to clarify how this process is accomplished by NifA. To determine which are the requirements for mRNA stabilization, we will determine the half-lives of nifH mRNA compared to that of the glnA mRNA which is induced by the RpoN-dependent regulator NtrC. RNase E mutants will be used to know whether that RNase is involved in the mRNA decay. Using hybrid promoters with heterolog binding sites, we will analyze if the stabilization is dependent specifically on NifA or on any RpoN-transcriptional activator. The conservation of the
postranscriptional mechanism will be tested by using either distinct nifA genes or nitrogenase genes from different species. Structural and functional comparison of nifH-lacZ half-life will be also assessed by in vitro translation. A possible interaction of nifH mRNA with NifA or any other elements will be analyzed by biochemical studies of RNA binding. Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact)
The planned project may find a novel mechanism of gene expression which may be attributed to a prokaryotic transcriptional activator with common features to eukaryotic ones. Moreover, postranscriptional controls of gene expression are not yet as well known as the transcriptional ones, but can be the bottleneck for the production of several proteins. Working in posttranscriptional steps of gene expression would also improve my experience in the field of gene expression.
Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)
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 biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
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Programme(s)
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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.
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Funding Scheme
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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
41080 Sevilla
Spain
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