Objective
Of the estimated 400 ion channels encoded in the human genome, ~70 are potassium (K+) channels. Their implication in a number of human diseases, e.g. cardiac arrhythmia, cystic fibrosis, makes K+ channels relevant drug targets. Whereas the number of high-resolution structures of membrane proteins has consistently increased over the last few years, their functional characterization using screening approaches has not kept pace with that of water-soluble proteins. In this context, reliable and informative rapid screening assays for membrane proteins are needed. By further developing the recently reported droplet interface bilayer (DIB) system, I intend to develop a rapid automatable platform for screening wild-type channels as well as libraries of mutant ion channels using Kcv (viral), KvAP (prokaryotic) and Kv1.2 (eukaryotic) as model systems. My blueprint for such a screening device is analogous to an assembly line consisting of a network of microchannels to; (i) construct lipid monolayer-encased aqueous droplets, (ii) synthesize ion channels inside these nanobioreactors by coupled in vitro transcription-translation (IVTT), (iii) form bilayers with other droplets containing channel blockers, (iv) subsequently measure single-channel conductance to determine activity. The assay will be capable of screening one channel against hundreds of blockers or screen a library of mutants against one or a few blockers. The development of this nanoscale-streamlined process offers the possibility of producing powerful lab-on-chip instruments for membrane protein assays, which have previously proven intractable.
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.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine cardiology cardiovascular diseases cardiac arrhythmia
- natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry alkali metals
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules lipids
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics genomes
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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.
FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008
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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
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom
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.