Objective A hallmark of profound understanding of the organization of a living cell is the ability to reconstitute essential cellular functionalities from minimal components. To achieve this breakthrough a concerted effort of cell biology, biochemistry and biophysics is required. Our project brings together this expertise to reconstitute the cell’s ability to control the organization of cytoskeletal networks in an artificial ‘Model’ Cell.To achieve a mechanistic understanding of how cell organization is regulated, we will develop methods to manipulate cytoskeletal interactions in space and time and study the effects of such manipulation on functional cytoskeletal organization in the confinement of both artificial systems and cells. We will focus on regulatory interactions at dynamic microtubule plus ends, which play an essential role in cell division, polarization, and migration. Using a combination of in vitro, in vivo, and theoretical approaches, we aim at the following goals:1. Achieve a molecular scale understanding of cooperative and competitive relationships between regulators at microtubule ends, and their effect on microtubule dynamics, microtubule behavior at the cell boundary, and interactions with actin filaments.2. Generate a quantitative understanding of symmetric and polarized positioning of the microtubule cytoskeleton by microtubule-cell boundary interactions during cell division and cell migration.3. Obtain a mechanistic view of microtubule-actin co-organization driven by regulatory effects at microtubule ends, with and without the additional contribution of microtubule-cell boundary interactions, and apply this knowledge to manipulate cell polarization and migration.Synergy between our complementary expertise, tools, infrastructure and local collaboration networks is key to achieving these goals. Our groups are located within short travel distance from each other, allowing the coupling of infrastructure and resources on a daily basis. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrynatural sciencesbiological sciencescell biologycell polaritynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiophysics Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-2013-SyG - ERC Synergy Grant Call for proposal ERC-2013-SyG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SyG - Synergy grant Lead Principal Investigator Aletta Maria Dogterom Prof. Host institution TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT EU contribution € 3 591 172,00 Address STEVINWEG 1 2628 CN Delft Netherlands See on map Region West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Delft en Westland Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Jose Van Vugt (Mrs.) Principal investigator Aletta Maria Dogterom (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT Netherlands EU contribution € 3 591 172,00 Address STEVINWEG 1 2628 CN Delft See on map Region West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Delft en Westland Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Jose Van Vugt (Mrs.) Principal investigator Aletta Maria Dogterom (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT Netherlands EU contribution € 3 559 640,00 Address HEIDELBERGLAAN 8 3584 CS Utrecht See on map Region West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Astrid Haijma (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
