Cel Touch sensation is built upon the ability of sensory neurons to detect and transduce nanometer scale mechanical displacements. The underlying process has been termed mechanotransduction: the high sensitivity and speed of which is enabled by direct gating (opening) of ion channels by mechanical force. Force detection is functionally compartmentalized and only takes place at the peripheral endings of sensory neurons in vivo. Two molecules are known to be genetically necessary for touch in many sensory neurons, the force gated ion channel PIEZO2 and its modulator STOML3. However, mechanotransduction complexes in all touch receptors absolutely require tethering to the extracellular matrix for function. Tethering is dependent on large extracellular proteins that are sensitive to site-specific proteases. Here we will not only identify the nature of these tethers, but will develop technology to acutely and reversibly abolish tethers and other mechanotransducer components. We will use genome engineering to tag tether and mechanotranduction components in order to visualize and manipulate these proteins at their in vivo sites of action. By engineering de novo cleavage sites for site-specific proteases we will render tethers and ion channels newly sensitive to normally ineffective proteases in the skin. We will engineer mutations into candidate ion channels that dramatically alter biophysical properties to physiologcally “mark” function in vivo. Finally we will develop new behavioural paradigms in mice that allow us to measure touch perception from the forepaw. Psychometric curves for different vibrotactile tasks can then be precisely compared between humans and mice. Furthermore, the impact of acute and reversible manipulation of mechanotransduction on touch perception can be measured. Understanding how molecules assemble to function in a mechanotransduction complex in the skin will open up avenues to develop therapeutic strategies to modulate touch. Dziedzina nauki natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsmutationnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomes Program(-y) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Temat(-y) ERC-2017-ADG - ERC Advanced Grant Zaproszenie do składania wniosków ERC-2017-ADG Zobacz inne projekty w ramach tego zaproszenia System finansowania ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant Instytucja przyjmująca MAX DELBRUECK CENTRUM FUER MOLEKULARE MEDIZIN IN DER HELMHOLTZ-GEMEINSCHAFT (MDC) Wkład UE netto € 2 500 000,00 Adres ROBERT ROSSLE STRASSE 10 13125 Berlin Niemcy Zobacz na mapie Region Berlin Berlin Berlin Rodzaj działalności Research Organisations Linki Kontakt z organizacją Opens in new window Strona internetowa Opens in new window Uczestnictwo w unijnych programach w zakresie badań i innowacji Opens in new window sieć współpracy HORIZON Opens in new window Koszt całkowity € 2 500 000,00 Beneficjenci (1) Sortuj alfabetycznie Sortuj według wkładu UE netto Rozwiń wszystko Zwiń wszystko MAX DELBRUECK CENTRUM FUER MOLEKULARE MEDIZIN IN DER HELMHOLTZ-GEMEINSCHAFT (MDC) Niemcy Wkład UE netto € 2 500 000,00 Adres ROBERT ROSSLE STRASSE 10 13125 Berlin Zobacz na mapie Region Berlin Berlin Berlin Rodzaj działalności Research Organisations Linki Kontakt z organizacją Opens in new window Strona internetowa Opens in new window Uczestnictwo w unijnych programach w zakresie badań i innowacji Opens in new window sieć współpracy HORIZON Opens in new window Koszt całkowity € 2 500 000,00