Project description
Post-transcriptional regulation of pancreatic cell specification
Regulation of gene expression takes place at the epigenetic, transcriptional and translational levels. Alternative splicing is a post-transcriptional molecular mechanism that allows generation of multiple mRNA transcripts from a single gene. This is achieved through the combination of alternative exons that leads to different mature mRNAs and to different proteins, thereby enhancing diversity. The EU-funded ePANC-SPLICE project is investigating the role of alternative splicing in the specification and differentiation of different pancreatic cell lineages. Results will advance current knowledge on the emergence of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells and the pathophysiology of diabetes.
Objective
Pancreatic beta cells are highly specialized cells that play a key role in maintaining glucose homeostasis by secreting insulin. Dysfunction or loss of beta cells results in diabetes, a worldwide growing epidemic. Extensive research has started to uncover the signals and transcriptional networks that control specification, differentiation and maturity of the different pancreatic cell lineages, and in particular of beta cells. However, posttranscriptional regulation during pancreas development has remained mostly unexplored. Alternative splicing (AS) is the main posttranscriptional mechanism that generates transcriptomic and proteomic diversity, playing essential roles in cell specification and functional specialization. My previous data suggest that beta cells activate neuron-related splicing programs involved in the regulation of insulin secretion. Moreover, pro-inflammatory cytokines (mediators of beta cell failure in type 1 diabetes) affect the splicing of signaling and pro-apoptotic genes that determine beta cell survival. However, the presence of beta- or endocrine-specific splicing programs and their role in diabetes remains to be clarified. In this project, we will investigate the regulation and function of endocrine-specific alternative exons. I will combine comparative transcriptomics, biochemical and functional studies, iPCS reprogramming and zebrafish knock-outs to: (i) comprehensively identify endocrine-AS exons, and study their regulation during beta cell differentiation and pancreas development; (ii) probe the phenotypic impact of endocrine-AS programs on beta cell differentiation and function; and (iii) Investigate the role of ENDO-AS exons in remodeling transcriptional and signaling networks involved in diabetes. We foresee that this project will provide new insights into beta cell pathophysiology and generate valuable knowledge for the development of splicing-modulating therapies and disease biomarkers.
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.
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology pathophysiology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine endocrinology diabetes
- medical and health sciences basic medicine physiology homeostasis
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
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.
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.
Funding Scheme
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.
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.
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
08003 Barcelona
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.