Project description
The link between epigenetics and metabolism
Accumulating evidence indicates that epigenetics plays a central role in regulating metabolic gene expression. Scientists of the EU-funded MetabolACE project are interested in the mechanism by which histone modifying enzymes impact metabolism. Their hypothesis is that these enzymes consume large amounts of key metabolites and thus drive metabolic rewiring by altering their abundance. Using a combination of epigenetics and metabolomics techniques, researchers will investigate how histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity affects the pool of acetyl coenzyme A (Acetyl-CoA) in cells. The work will establish a new fundamental link between epigenetics and metabolism in both health and disease.
Objective
Accumulating evidence in recent years has highlighted strong regulatory interactions between epigenetic mechanisms and metabolic transformations, mainly through transcriptional control of key metabolic genes. However, what has been overlooked is the direct effect of histone modifying enzymes on cellular metabolism as they are large consumers of sentinel metabolites. Therefore, I hypothesize that histone modifying enzymes and their mediated post-translation modifications (PTMs) on histones directly drive metabolic rewiring which subsequently impacts various cellular processes including gene expression. Specifically, this fellowship will focus on histone acetyltransferases (HATs) that use acetyl coenzyme A (Acetyl-CoA) as their sole substrate. Using interdisciplinary, state-of-the-art approaches that integrate subcellular metabolomics and high-throughput epigenomic techniques I will interrogate how the activity of HATs controls the abundance of acetyl-CoA and, in turn, defines the metabolic status of a cell leading to a subsequent reciprocal effect on the epigenetic landscape and genome regulation. Firm preliminary data, that I have recently generated, support the proposed project hypothesis and demonstrate that the experimental design is credible. During this project, my in-depth knowledge of metabolism and mass spectrometry skills will be combined with the expertise of epigenetics and histone biology that I will acquire at the host lab to reveal a new pathway through which histone PTMs function. This work will unveil a new fundamental link between epigenetics and metabolism and will be the commencing point for important future work in health and disease. Importantly, this fellowship will propel my academic career and help me become a scientific leader at the interface of epigenetics and metabolism since it will act as a stepping stone towards securing new research funding and acquiring a tenure track position.
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 chemical sciences analytical chemistry mass spectrometry
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics epigenetics
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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.
1678 Nicosia
Cyprus
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.