Obiettivo Sensory cilia are organelles extending like antennas from many eukaryotic cells, with crucial functions in sensing and signalling. Cilia consist of an axoneme built of microtubules, enveloped by a specialized membrane. Ciliary development and maintenance depend critically on a specific, microtubule-based intracellular transport mechanism, intraflagellar transport (IFT). In my laboratory, we study the chemosensory cilia of C. elegans, which sense water-soluble molecules in the animal’s environment for chemotaxis. Over the past years, we have developed a unique set of quantitative, single-molecule fluorescence microscopy tools that allow us to visualize and quantify IFT dynamics with unprecedented detail in living animals. So far, our focus has been on the cooperation of the motor proteins driving IFT. The overall objective of my current proposal is to zoom out and shed light on the connection between ciliary structure, chemosensory function and IFT, from a systems perspective. Recent work has indicated that axoneme length is controlled by IFT. Preliminary results from my laboratory show that axoneme length changes dynamically in response to perturbations of IFT or cilia. Furthermore, we have shown that IFT is substantially affected upon exposure of animals to known repellent solutions. The four major aims in my proposal are to:• determine how directional changes in IFT are regulated and are affected by external disturbances,• understand the dynamics of the axonemal microtubules and how IFT affects these dynamics and vice versa,• study how sensory ciliary function affects IFT and ciliary structure,• further develop our (single-molecule) fluorescence microscopy toolbox by improving instrumentation and using better fluorescent probes and sensors. These experiments will place my lab in a unique position to push forward our understanding of the relationship between structure, function and dynamics of transport of this fascinating and fundamental organelle. Campo scientifico natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensors Programma(i) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Argomento(i) ERC-2017-ADG - ERC Advanced Grant Invito a presentare proposte ERC-2017-ADG Vedi altri progetti per questo bando Meccanismo di finanziamento ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant Istituzione ospitante STICHTING VU Contribution nette de l'UE € 2 499 580,00 Indirizzo DE BOELELAAN 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam Paesi Bassi Mostra sulla mappa Regione West-Nederland Noord-Holland Groot-Amsterdam Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Partecipazione a programmi di R&I dell'UE Opens in new window Rete di collaborazione HORIZON Opens in new window Costo totale € 2 499 580,00 Beneficiari (1) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo netto dell'UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto STICHTING VU Paesi Bassi Contribution nette de l'UE € 2 499 580,00 Indirizzo DE BOELELAAN 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam Mostra sulla mappa Regione West-Nederland Noord-Holland Groot-Amsterdam Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Partecipazione a programmi di R&I dell'UE Opens in new window Rete di collaborazione HORIZON Opens in new window Costo totale € 2 499 580,00
