Objective
This project aims at importing in Europe key scientific competences developed by the applicant researcher during a period of almost 10 years spent at UC Berkeley (group of Prof. Carlos Bustamante) working on the technique of laser tweezers applied to the study of folding/unfolding pathways of single proteins.
The aforementioned group has pioneered the measurements of the tiny forces which allow a biopolymer to attain and maintain its native structure. Laser tweezers applied to protein folding, have the remarkable advantage of operating on a single molecule, avoiding the ensemble average typical of classical bulky techniques and providing naturally a reaction coordinate to follow the thermodynamic process of folding.
We propose to build the double trap laser tweezers at CNR-INFM-S3 in Modena and to investigate the energy landscape of the folding trajectories of the protein RNaseH by:
- estimating the activation energies between different molecular states along the reaction coordinate from the dependence of the folding rate constants on temperature;
- determining the structures of the transition states through Phi-value analysis;
- analyzing the anisotropy of the energy landscape by denaturing the molecules along different pulling axes, and
- carrying out molecular dynamic simulations to gain insight into the microscopic details of the folding reactions.
The results of these experiments should help elucidating the role of the energy landscape in determining the folding, dynamics and ultimately the function of a protein. The applicant researcher possesses all the needed capabilities to face this ambitious goal.
The host offers in this sense an ideally suited environment for the prompt transplantation and successful development of this technique in Europe. By this action we would import a very novel and unique skill that would foster further development in the field of single biomolecule investigation and nanobiotechnology.
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 genetics DNA
- natural sciences physical sciences thermodynamics
- engineering and technology materials engineering amorphous solids organic amorphous solids
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins protein folding
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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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.
FP6-2004-MOBILITY-12
See other projects for this call
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.
IRG - Marie Curie actions-International re-integration grants
Coordinator
ROMA
Italy
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.