Objective
All modern organisms feature chemiosmosis (ion-motive-force driven processes, including membrane transport and ATP production), and therefore the Last Common Universal Ancestor (LUCA) is believed to be chemiosmotic; although contradictorily. As for chemiosmosis to happen, cells utilise membranes relatively impermeable to the coupling ion (H+ or Na+). It has previously been shown that, theoretically, LUCA could drive chemiosmosis using a geo-chemical H+-gradient but only if it had a leaky membrane. However, a leaky membrane rapidly achieves electrochemical equilibrium offsetting the
H+ influx. For the H+ influx, and therefore chemiosmosis, to continue, the membrane needs a system to pump H+.
Paradoxically, pumping H+ across a leaky membrane is futile. A potential solution has previously been hypothesised in the form of membranes leaky to H+ that harboured: an ATP-synthase coupled to both H+ and Na+, and an antiporter that pumps out Na+ for incoming H+. Such a Na+/H+ antiporter could convert the geochemical H+ gradient into a Na+-gradient. It would be advantageous to do so as a Na+-gradient could be better sustained by the LUCA membrane and could drive ATP production via the promiscuous ATP-synthase. My project aims at obtaining empiricalmvalidation for this hypothesis. To do so, a promiscuous ATP-synthase will be co-reconstituted, alongside a Na+/H+ antiporter, into fatty-acid-containing hybrid liposomes (made from fatty acids and other amphiphilic (phospho)lipids). Ion-gradients will be imposed on the liposomes by pH-jump or
decarboxylase-catalysed alkalisation methods to test whether the system could: a) convert the H+-gradient into a Na+-gradient via the Na+/H+ antiporter, and b) use the Na+- gradient to drive ATP production via the promiscuous ATP-synthase. This study is critical to understand the evolution of chemiosmotic systems and will have implications in evolutionary and synthetic biology as well as astrobiology.
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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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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
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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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01
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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.
9712CP Groningen
Netherlands
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.