Cel Membrane fusion is a universal process essential inside cells (endoplasmic) and between cells in fertilization and organ formation (exoplasmic). With the exception of SNARE-mediated endoplasmic fusion the proteins that mediate cellular fusion (fusogens) are unknown. Despite many years of research, little is known about the mechanism of cell-cell fusion. Our studies of developmental cell fusion in the nematode C. elegans have led to the discovery of the first family of eukaryotic fusogens (FF). These fusogens, EFF-1 and AFF-1, are type I membrane glycoproteins that are essential for cell fusion and can fuse cells when ectopically expressed on the membranes of C. elegans and heterologous cells.Our main goals are:(1) To determine the physicochemical mechanism of cell membrane fusion mediated by FF proteins.(2) To find the missing fusogens that act in cell fusion events across all kingdoms of life.We hypothesize that FF proteins fuse membranes by a mechanism analogous to viral or endoplasmic fusogens and that unidentified fusogens fuse cells following the same principles as FF proteins.Our specific aims are:AIM 1 Determine the mechanism of FF-mediated cell fusion: A paradigm for cell membrane fusionAIM 2 Find the sperm-egg fusion proteins (fusogens) in C. elegansAIM 3 Identify the myoblast fusogens in mammalsAIM 4 Test fusogens using functional cell fusion assays in heterologous systemsIdentifying critical domains required for FF fusion, intermediates in membrane remodeling, and atomic structures of FF proteins will advance the fundamental understanding of the mechanisms of eukaryotic cell fusion. We propose to find the Holy Grail of fertilization and mammalian myoblast fusion. We estimate that this project, if successful, will bring a breakthrough to the sperm-egg and muscle fusion fields with potential applications in basic and applied biomedical sciences. Dziedzina nauki natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologymammalogy Program(-y) 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) Temat(-y) ERC-AG-LS3 - ERC Advanced Grant - Cellular and Developmental Biology Zaproszenie do składania wniosków ERC-2010-AdG_20100317 Zobacz inne projekty w ramach tego zaproszenia System finansowania ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Instytucja przyjmująca TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Wkład UE € 2 366 486,49 Adres SENATE BUILDING TECHNION CITY 32000 Haifa Izrael Zobacz na mapie Rodzaj działalności Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Kontakt administracyjny Mark Davison (Mr.) Kierownik naukowy Benjamin Podbilewicz (Prof.) Linki Kontakt z organizacją Opens in new window Strona internetowa Opens in new window Koszt całkowity Brak danych Beneficjenci (2) Sortuj alfabetycznie Sortuj według wkładu UE Rozwiń wszystko Zwiń wszystko TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Izrael Wkład UE € 2 366 486,49 Adres SENATE BUILDING TECHNION CITY 32000 Haifa Zobacz na mapie Rodzaj działalności Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Kontakt administracyjny Mark Davison (Mr.) Kierownik naukowy Benjamin Podbilewicz (Prof.) Linki Kontakt z organizacją Opens in new window Strona internetowa Opens in new window Koszt całkowity Brak danych THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Zakończenie uczestnictwa Zjednoczone Królestwo Wkład UE € 13 513,51 Adres WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES OX1 2JD Oxford Zobacz na mapie Region South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Rodzaj działalności Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Kontakt administracyjny Stephen Conway (Dr.) Linki Kontakt z organizacją Opens in new window Strona internetowa Opens in new window Koszt całkowity Brak danych