Objective
The overall objective of this project is to study the initial phase of gene-transcription – i.e. the transformation of genetic information from DNA to RNA – at the level of individual molecules. State-of-the-art single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy will be used in combination with a nanoscale “spectroscopic ruler” (a method based on the phenomenon of fluorescence resonance energy transfer, also known as FRET) to capture the transient intermediates and conformational changes of RNA polymerase, the protein machine that orchestrates transcription. This analysis will complement the static snapshots of transcription complexes, which have been obtained using X-ray crystallography. Single-molecule fluorescence methods are well suited for real-time studies of initial transcription, since the available temporal resolution is sufficient for monitoring conformational changes during the addition of a single nucleotide to an RNA chain. The specific aims are to develop novel real-time assays for detecting promoter-DNA opening and promoter-escape in vitro; to use the in vitro assays for studying the effect of specific DNA sequences on promoter-proximal pausing and promoter escape; and to take the first steps towards developing similar single-molecule FRET assays that report on transcription in living bacterial cells. The proposed work will contribute to the understanding of initial transcription, providing insights applicable to the transcription systems of higher organisms such as humans. The proposed toolbox will also find extensive use in the study of other important protein-DNA interactions, both in vitro and in vivo.
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 earth and related environmental sciences geology mineralogy crystallography
- natural sciences physical sciences optics spectroscopy emission spectroscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics nucleotides
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics RNA
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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-2009-IEF
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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.