Project description
Molecular insight into centrosome biogenesis
Centrosomes are complex cellular organelles composed of hundreds of proteins and drive mitotic spindle formation during cell division. Their fundamental importance is underscored by the observation that cancer cells are characterised by aberrant centrosome numbers. The EU-funded CENTROMD project will use Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism to study the interactions between key proteins in centrosomes and how they contribute to regulate the number and size of these organelles during the cell cycle. The project's results will be of great interest to cell biology and cancer research and may help identify novel anti-cancer targets.
Objective
Centrosomes are organelles composed of a pair of centrioles surrounded by a pericentriolar matrix (PCM) that perform a variety of key functions in the animal cell. Centrosomes duplicate precisely once during S-phase of the cell cycle; in G2-phase the two centrosomes move to opposite locations around the nucleus and expand their PCM to nucleate vast quantities of microtubules for mitotic spindle formation. Dysfunctions in the centrosome cycle have been associated with a wide range of pathologies and, in particular, centrosome amplification, an aberrant increase in centrosome numbers, is a hallmark of most human cancers. Centrosomes are complex machines composed of hundreds of proteins, however significant efforts over the past decades have identified the key elements which are essential for centriole and centrosome biogenesis. We can now address the molecular mechanisms that mediate interactions between key players and how these contribute to regulate the number and size of these organelles during the cell cycle. Elucidating these mechanisms is of great interest to cell biology and cancer research. This research proposal aims to investigate aspects of centriole and centrosome biogenesis using Drosophila melanogaster as an animal model. The main objectives are: 1), to reconstitute initial steps of centriole assembly using a hybrid in vivo/in vitro approach, where I will study the molecular dynamics of the interaction between key centriolar proteins Asl and Plk4, using functionalised microspheres as a scaffold and 2), to analyse the dynamic behaviour of single molecules of key centrosomal proteins Cnn and Spd-2 as they move throughout the PCM during expansion, using super-resolution microscopy techniques. We are confident that these studies will provide novel insights into the design principles and inner workings of these important organelles.
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.
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy super resolution microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine pathology
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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-2019
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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.
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
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.