Objective
Imbalances of human major lipid signaling pathways contribute to progression in inflammation, neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. Among lipidic messengers, the family of bioactive N-Acylethanolamines (NAEs) is agonist at cannabinoid and nuclear α-type peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. The ability of NAEs and their metabolic enzymes to modulate neurotransmission and a variety of pathophysiological processes, including inflammation, appetite, pain and mood, provides unique chances for drug discovery. Upon stimulation, bioactive NAEs are generated from cell membranes in a two-step pathway, which involves an N-acyltransferase and an N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-hydrolyzing phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD). NAEs bearing saturated and monounsaturated long acyl chains are significantly decreased in NAPE-PLD(-/-) mice suggesting this enzymes as key regulators of the NAE-mediated signaling potential. Very little is known about the molecular architecture of NAPE-PLD and the specific functional role of its N- and C-terminal domains. If given a chance, I will study domain trafficking in activated cells and to solve the X-ray structure of this membrane-bound protein. I will characterize the thermodynamics and kinetics of enzyme interactions, which are essential in understanding how NAPE-PLD synthesizes NEAs and controls their cellular level. Findings will be used for a rational approach in the design of potent and selective NAPE-PLD ligands, which can be exploited pharmacologically to modulate the level of NAEs in inflammation, pain, and neurodegenerative disorders. These aims are a common goal of cell biology, structural biology, pharmacology, and medicinal chemistry, which could give an invaluable blueprint for the design of selective inhibitors, thus strongly impacting both EU scientific research and EU molecular medicine. The Drug Discovery and Development Unit of the Italian Institute of Technology is a unique working environment for their achievement.
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 basic medicine pharmacology and pharmacy drug discovery
- medical and health sciences basic medicine medicinal chemistry
- natural sciences biological sciences cell biology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins enzymes
- natural sciences biological sciences molecular biology structural biology
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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-2010-RG
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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
16163 Genova
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.