Objective
Our brain consists of over a 100 billion neurons, organized into neuronal circuits transmitting electrical pulses. Hence, the integrity of a circuit depends on reliable neuronal communication: if a neuron fails, the circuit fails. The importance to maintain neuronal communication is underscored by numerous psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, epilepsy and drug addiction arising from defects in specific circuits. Neurons in these circuits communicate by releasing neurotransmitters from synaptic vesicles and to maintain communication neurons dependent on efficient recycling of synaptic vesicle pools. The work focuses on understanding mechanisms of vesicle recycling using morphological and functional assays. The studies indicate the existence of 2 recycling pathways: clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME), where membranes invaginate to form vesicles, and kiss-and-run, where vesicles form a transient fusion pore and recycle locally. While many components of CME are identified and shown to interact biochemically, few are analysed in vivo.
CME will be studied using functional analyses of newly identified genes as well as by using novel imaging strategies involving FRET, allowing to visualize protein interactions while vesicles form in real-time, revealing nov el types of synaptic plasticity. The existence of alternative vesicle recycling modes, like kiss-and-run, remains controversial, because no specific protein required for it has been identified. The group found that when CME is blocked in endophilin and synaptojan in mutants some transmission akin to kiss-and-run persists.
Based on this a genetic strategy to isolate the first molecular components of kiss-and-run, paving the way towards better understanding of the process is outlined. Taken together, the work seeks to elucidate mechanisms of vesicle retrieval. By understanding processes underlying neuro-communication better, valuable insight into the basis of normal and pathological brain function will be obtained.
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 environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- natural sciences mathematics pure mathematics mathematical analysis functional analysis
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine psychiatry schizophrenia
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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.
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.
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.
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-8
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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.
Coordinator
ZWIJNAARDE
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.