Objetivo Passive transport through lipid membranes is ubiquitous and fundamental in living systems. The aim of this proposal is to create novel biotechnological tools to study permeation of organic compounds through lipid membranes and protein pores. In particular, I will focus on strategies employed by living organisms to optimize and regulate permeation directly through their membranes. The fundamental principles are probed by creating macroscopic model systems for biological channels and membranes. Simultaneously, new microfluidic tools will allow for a screening of biological relevant organic compounds.Biotechnological experiments investigating permeation of organic molecules into single uni-lamellar vesicles will challenge the dogma of protein controlled membranes transport. Indole, an important signaling molecule for E. coli, is an ideal candidate to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel assay based on a combination of four technologies. Microfluidics provide the controlled environment, holographic optical tweezers confine single vesicles in three dimensions to facilitate ionic current detection and simultaneous auto-fluorescence detection. This unique combination will yield a scalable technology platform to test membrane permeation. However, a deeper understanding of the molecular basis for these passive transport processes is still elusive. Theory predicts that binding potentials for molecules in a protein channel, passive transport can be optimized. Combining microfluidics with holographic optical tweezers provides the optimal means to test this quantitatively. These model experiments will prove that passive transport can be enhanced and optimized by introducing binding sites in protein channels and membranes. Furthermore, the results will guide future design of e.g. antibiotics, DNA vaccines and membrane permeating drugs and fundamentally change our understanding of passive membrane transport. Ámbito científico natural sciencesphysical sciencesclassical mechanicsfluid mechanicsmicrofluidicsnatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistrynatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNAnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipids Programa(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Tema(s) ERC-SG-LS9 - ERC Starting Grant - Applied life sciences and biotechnology Convocatoria de propuestas ERC-2010-StG_20091118 Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria Régimen de financiación ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Institución de acogida THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Aportación de la UE € 1 193 758,80 Dirección TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS CB2 1TN Cambridge Reino Unido Ver en el mapa Región East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Tipo de actividad Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contacto administrativo Renata Schaeffer (Ms.) Investigador principal Ulrich Felix Keyser (Dr.) Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Coste total Sin datos Beneficiarios (1) Ordenar alfabéticamente Ordenar por aportación de la UE Ampliar todo Contraer todo THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Reino Unido Aportación de la UE € 1 193 758,80 Dirección TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS CB2 1TN Cambridge Ver en el mapa Región East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Tipo de actividad Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contacto administrativo Renata Schaeffer (Ms.) Investigador principal Ulrich Felix Keyser (Dr.) Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Coste total Sin datos
