Excitation-contraction coupling and calcium signalling in health and disease

Objective

In skeletal and heart muscle, the signal transduction between the cell surface membrane and the contractile apparatus, called excitation-contraction coupling (ECC), is a model for calcium flux and homeostasis of unique importance. No other organs respond so dramatically to their use or inactivity by hypertrophy or atrophy. Our aim is to study the regulation and molecular basis of ECC in health and disease in man and in animal and cell models.
Our goals are:
a) to identify novel ECC proteins and characterize their interaction at the molecular level;
b) to study localization and targeting of the proteins to their respective compartments, and their interaction using cellular and animal and disease models;
c ) to functionally analyze ECC and calcium signaling with high-resolution imaging and electrophysiological techniques;
d) to study the genetics and pathophysiology of disease arising from EEC defects. Our proposal integrates a large number of state-of -the-art technologies in the fields of protein biochemistry, molecular genetics, cell biology and physiology.

Programme(s)

• FP5-HUMAN POTENTIAL - Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Improving the human research potential and the socio-economic knowledge base" (1998-2002)

Funding Scheme

NET - Research network contracts

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF ULM

Address

Albert-einstein-alle, 11
89069 Ulm
Germany

Participants (7)

LEOPOLD-FRANZENS-UNIVERSITAET INNSBRUCK

Austria

Address

3,Fritz-pregl-strasse 3
6020 Innsbruck

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND - MAYNOOTH

Ireland

Address

47 Maynooth - Co. Kildare

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI FERRARA

Italy

Address

Via Luigi Borsari, 46
44100 Ferrara

UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI SIENA

Italy

Address

Via Banchi Di Sotto 55
Siena

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK

Ireland

Address

Lee Maltings, Prospect Row
30 Cork

UNIVERSITY OF BERNE

Switzerland

Address

5,Buehlplatz 5
3012 Bern

UNIVERSITY OF DEBRECEN

Hungary

Address

Nagyerdei Krt. 98
4012 Debrecen