Objective
Formation of amyloid-like protein aggregates is the hallmark of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, but how the aggregation process is linked with cytotoxicity and cell death remains unclear. The goal of this pro¬ject is to elucidate the basic mechanisms of aggregate toxicity and how it affects the biological system in its entirety. We will analyse cell culture and mouse models of Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclero¬sis and Alzheimer’s disease using a trans-disciplinary approach combining cellular biochemistry, quantita¬tive proteomics and 3D cryo-electron tomography. The effects of aggregating protein species (APS) formed by designer proteins and authentic disease proteins will be compared to define general and disease-specific toxicity mechanisms. The main aims of this project are:
1. To determine the sequence of cellular events occurring during toxic protein aggregation. Live cell imaging and single molecule fluorescence fluctuation measurements will be employed to monitor how APS evolve from diffusible oligomers to large inclusions and quantitative proteomics will define signatures for cells with different forms of aggregates.
2. To identify the mechanisms of aggregation toxicity through a systematic interactome analysis of APS in cell culture and mouse brain. The cellular localization of APS and their potential association with membrane structures and cellular machinery will be determined by cryo-ET.
3. To elucidate why cellular protein quality control fails in neurodegenerative disease. Specially designed proteostasis sensors will be used to monitor the status of the protein folding machinery as aggregate pathol¬ogy develops. The potentially protective pathways of inclusion body formation will be explored using cryo-ET and laser capture dissection coupled with highly sensitive proteomics.
Understanding aggregation toxicity will be invaluable in developing novel therapeutic strategies for some of the most debilitating diseases of our time.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins proteomics
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- natural sciences physical sciences optics microscopy electron microscopy
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins protein folding
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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.
ERC-2012-SyG
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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.
Host institution
80539 Munchen
Germany
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.