Project description
Nanobody sensors for cell monitoring
Genetically encoded fluorescent biosensors are specially designed proteins produced by genetically engineered cells that fluoresce to report specific biological activity, such as chemical changes or protein behaviour. These sensors allow scientists to monitor what’s happening inside living cells in real time, discover disease mechanisms and test new drugs. However, designing such biosensors is complex, and current options can only track a limited number of cellular processes. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the UniverSy project proposes to develop a new flexible biosensor system built from nanobodies, small antibodies that can recognise very specific proteins. These molecules can serve as universal biosensors for tracking more biological targets.
Objective
The development of genetically-encoded fluorescence sensors revolutionized the monitoring of biochemical processes in living cell by reporting a change in their fluorescence properties in response to a specific aspect of their environment. However, the design of such biosensors is not trivial and available tools only target a limited set of phenomena. Current limitations prevent the monitoring of crucial processes such as the activity of membrane associated receptors which are a rich target for drug development. Simple binders are much easier to develop than biosensors, for instance nanobodies can bind a plethora of targets with high affinity and specificity, sometimes for a particular conformation. The host research group recently developed a molecular design to convert nanobodies into fluorescent biosensors. To elicite a fluorescent signal in presence of the target, this NanoBlock sensors require the development of an intracellular blocking peptide that will be displaced upon binding to the target. This limiting step prevent the application of the NanoBlock design to a large number of targets.
This objective of this proposal is to develop an entirely new class of fluorescent biosensors by engineering the NanoBlock technology so that nanobodies can be converted into fluorescent biosensors without the need for a distinct blocking peptide creating a plug and play system. This UniverSy technology will open the possibilities to visualize many more cellular processes to gain fundamental insight on protein activity and the development of therapeutics targeting these processes. The development of the UniverSy sensor will consist in the generation of dual affinity nanobodies binding their original target and a specific peptide sequence; the demonstration of the versatility of the UniverSy framework to target various proteins in vitro and in living cell and the use of UniverSy in a fluorescence assay to quantify the activation of GPCR for drug screening applications.
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.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors biosensors
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
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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)
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.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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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) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-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.
3000 Leuven
Belgium
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.