Project description
Mechanisms of progerin’s role in normal and premature aging
The nuclear envelope separates nuclear contents from the cytoplasm, allowing selective exchange via nuclear pore complexes (NPCs). Its structural stability is provided by a dense network of lamin proteins. Changes in membrane tension alter the diameter of NPCs. Mutations in lamins are associated with various disorders including Progeria, a fatal premature ageing disease. Furthermore, the expression of a truncated form of lamin A (progerin) deforms the nuclear envelope, causing premature arrest of the cell cycle. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the ProgeroidNPC project aims to investigate the potential link between progerin, NPC changes, dysfunction in nuclear transport, and ageing in Progeria patient-derived primary cells.
Objective
The nuclear lamina is a meshwork of lamin proteins that underlie the inner nuclear membrane and confer mechanical stability to the nuclear envelope. Mutations in lamins are associated with many disorders, including Progeria, a fatal premature ageing disease. In progeroid cells, expression of a truncated form of lamin A, named progerin, drastically deforms the nuclear envelope, causing premature cellular senescence. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.
The nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) enable selective transport across the nuclear envelope. The diameter of the NPC central channel and the resulting nucleocytoplasmic exchange is governed by membrane tension, which is predicted to alter in the progeroid nuclei. Therefore, I postulate that the structural integrity of the NPCs is disrupted in progeroid cells, as a result of the deformed nuclear envelope, and/or direct interaction with progerin. This may lead to further deregulation of nuclear transport that potentially drives cellular senescence.
I aim to investigate whether the NPCs indeed undergo compositional and conformational change in Progeria patient-derived primary cells, and to what extent nuclear transport is impacted. To do so, I will apply in cellulo cryo-electron tomography to unveil the molecular organisation of the progeroid NPCs. I will further employ fluorescence microscopy-based cellular assays to identify proteins with nucleocytoplasmic mislocalisation. The proposed work will have three major significances: (1) To date, in cellulo structures of the NPCs in disease states have rarely been examined. Visualisation of the NPCs directly in patient-derived cells will provide pivotal insights into NPC biology. (2) Investigation of nuclear transport in progeroid cells will reveal the mechanisms contributing to premature ageing. (3) Since progerin is also produced during normal ageing, its mechanistic investigation may add to understanding of the natural ageing processes.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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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
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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)
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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)
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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.
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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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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
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