Project description
Genetic redundancy and the evolution of efflux pumps in E. coli
In genetic redundancy, multiple genes perform the same or a similar function. This may provide a fitness benefit during evolution by increasing gene dosage and protecting critical genes from deleterious mutations. These fitness effects have been confirmed experimentally, but their long-term consequences for evolution have not been tested. The EU-funded EGR project will address this knowledge gap by manipulating the genomic content of efflux pump genes in E. coli and testing the effect of their redundancy using directed evolution of proteins. They will compare evolutionary trajectories using comprehensive sequence and fitness analysis of the evolved efflux pump variants and directly test the role of genetic redundancy in evolution to understand why it is maintained in a genome.
Objective
In genetic redundancy, multiple genes in a genome perform the same or similar function. Although redundancy is widespread across the tree of life, its evolutionary origins are not entirely understood. Genetic redundancy may provide a fitness benefit during evolution by increasing gene dosage and protecting critical genes from deleterious mutations. These fitness effects have been confirmed experimentally, but their long-term consequences for evolution have not been tested. In this study, I will manipulate the genomic content of efflux pump genes in E. coli and test the effect of their redundancy using directed evolution of proteins. By evolving the multidrug efflux pump AcrAB at different levels of redundancy, I will determine how the presence of other genes with overlapping drug-efflux activities affects adaptive evolution. I will compare evolutionary trajectories using comprehensive sequence and fitness analysis of the evolved efflux pump variants. This approach will provide a unique opportunity to directly test the role of genetic redundancy in evolution and help to understand why genetic redundancy is maintained in a genome.
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 biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics mutation
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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-2020
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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.
8006 Zurich
Switzerland
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.