Project acronym PLANTGROWTH
Project Exploiting genome replication to design improved plant growth strategies
Researcher (PI) Crisanto GUTIERREZ
Host Institution (HI) AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DEINVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS9, ERC-2018-ADG
Summary This project will identify the principles governing genome replication in relation to the chromatin landscape and how they impact on plant organ growth. The results will provide the basis to design novel strategies to improve plant growth performance.
The large plant genomes, as in all eukaryotes, must be faithfully duplicated every cell cycle, a process regulated at the level of DNA replication origins (ORIs). Our understanding of how ORIs are determined is still very limited. Most of our knowledge comes from cultured cells, precluding the identification of regulatory layers operating at the organism level. Importantly, genome replication can offer unexplored possibilities to modulate plant architecture and growth and, consequently, plant performance.
Results generated so far unable us to address a fundamental question: what are the regulatory mechanisms of DNA and genome replication and how they can be exploited to design improved plant growth strategies. This innovative perspective will reveal how genome replication is regulated by DNA sequence context, replication factors and chromatin landscape. Integration of molecular, cellular, genomic and genetic approaches in a whole organism will serve to evaluate the phenotypic effects of modulating genome replication on organ growth. We will also learn how DNA replication control is exerted during endoreplication and in coordination with transcriptional programs, both crucial for plant organogenesis, growth and response to environmental stresses.
This program goes beyond incremental research, is timely, innovative, ambitious but realistic, and high risk/high gain, combining different approaches to address a fundamental process. Given the conservation of proteins and pathways, and the availability of well-annotated genomic information for many plant species, PLANTGROWTH will pave the way to translate the technological and conceptual know-how derived from this program to crop species to improve yield.
Summary
This project will identify the principles governing genome replication in relation to the chromatin landscape and how they impact on plant organ growth. The results will provide the basis to design novel strategies to improve plant growth performance.
The large plant genomes, as in all eukaryotes, must be faithfully duplicated every cell cycle, a process regulated at the level of DNA replication origins (ORIs). Our understanding of how ORIs are determined is still very limited. Most of our knowledge comes from cultured cells, precluding the identification of regulatory layers operating at the organism level. Importantly, genome replication can offer unexplored possibilities to modulate plant architecture and growth and, consequently, plant performance.
Results generated so far unable us to address a fundamental question: what are the regulatory mechanisms of DNA and genome replication and how they can be exploited to design improved plant growth strategies. This innovative perspective will reveal how genome replication is regulated by DNA sequence context, replication factors and chromatin landscape. Integration of molecular, cellular, genomic and genetic approaches in a whole organism will serve to evaluate the phenotypic effects of modulating genome replication on organ growth. We will also learn how DNA replication control is exerted during endoreplication and in coordination with transcriptional programs, both crucial for plant organogenesis, growth and response to environmental stresses.
This program goes beyond incremental research, is timely, innovative, ambitious but realistic, and high risk/high gain, combining different approaches to address a fundamental process. Given the conservation of proteins and pathways, and the availability of well-annotated genomic information for many plant species, PLANTGROWTH will pave the way to translate the technological and conceptual know-how derived from this program to crop species to improve yield.
Max ERC Funding
2 497 800 €
Duration
Start date: 2019-06-01, End date: 2024-05-31
Project acronym POLYDOT
Project Control of the Electronic Properties in Hybrid- Quantum Dot/Polymer-Materials for Energy Production
Researcher (PI) Emilio Palomares
Host Institution (HI) FUNDACIO PRIVADA INSTITUT CATALA D'INVESTIGACIO QUIMICA
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE4, ERC-2009-StG
Summary The PolyDot project aims to foster necessary progress on frontier research that integrates a number of leading concepts in the field of photoelectrochemistry in association with new concepts from areas such as nanoscience and materials chemistry. As an example, key scientific elements of the PolyDot project are the synthesis of new molecular electronic components, such as semiconducting quantum dots, the design of self-organising functional interfaces through supramolecular interactions and the evaluation of these systems for its potential technological application as light driven energy supplier devices. Thus, the proposal is at the meeting point between supramolecular chemistry, nanostructured inorganic materials science and optoelectronic device physics. It is therefore highly multidisciplinary and involves my research group, which is working in the device physics characterisation and materials science fields. We believe that this project will develop a critical mass of expertise targeting this innovative approach towards solar powered devices allowing Europe to establish a scientific world lead and will also form a secure basis for renewable energy technological exploitation.
Summary
The PolyDot project aims to foster necessary progress on frontier research that integrates a number of leading concepts in the field of photoelectrochemistry in association with new concepts from areas such as nanoscience and materials chemistry. As an example, key scientific elements of the PolyDot project are the synthesis of new molecular electronic components, such as semiconducting quantum dots, the design of self-organising functional interfaces through supramolecular interactions and the evaluation of these systems for its potential technological application as light driven energy supplier devices. Thus, the proposal is at the meeting point between supramolecular chemistry, nanostructured inorganic materials science and optoelectronic device physics. It is therefore highly multidisciplinary and involves my research group, which is working in the device physics characterisation and materials science fields. We believe that this project will develop a critical mass of expertise targeting this innovative approach towards solar powered devices allowing Europe to establish a scientific world lead and will also form a secure basis for renewable energy technological exploitation.
Max ERC Funding
1 299 960 €
Duration
Start date: 2009-11-01, End date: 2014-10-31
Project acronym ProNANO
Project Protein-based functional nanostructures
Researcher (PI) Aitziber Lopez Cortajarena
Host Institution (HI) ASOCIACION CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION COOPERATIVA EN BIOMATERIALES- CIC biomaGUNE
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), LS9, ERC-2014-CoG
Summary The precise synthesis of nano-devices with tailored complex structures and properties is a requisite for their use in nanotechnology and medicine. Nowadays, the technology for the generation of these devices lacks the precision to determine their properties, and is accomplished mostly by “trial and error” experimental approaches. Bottom-up self-assembly that relies on highly specific biomolecular interactions of small and simple components, is an attractive approach for nanostructure templating.
Here, we propose to overcome aforementioned challenges by using self-assembling protein building blocks as templates for nanofabrication. In nature, protein assemblies govern sophisticated structures and functions, which are inspiration to engineer novel assemblies by exploiting the same set of tools and interactions to create nanostructures with numerous potential applications in synthetic biology and nanotechnology.
We hypothesize that we can rationally assemble a variety functional nanostructures by the logical combination of simple protein building blocks with specified properties. We propose to use a designed repeat protein scaffold for which we acquired a deep understanding of its molecular structure, stability, function, and inherent assembly properties. Only few conserved residues define the structure of the building block, which allow us to mutate its sequence to modulate assembly properties and to introduce reactive functionalities without compromising the structure of the scaffolding molecule.
First, we will design a collection of protein-based nanostructures. Then, we will introduce reactive functionalities to create hybrid nanostructures with nanoparticles, metals and electro-active molecules. Finally, these conjugates will be used to build nano-devices such as nanocircuits, catalysts and electroactive materials.
The outcome of this project will be a modular versatile platform for the fabrication of multiple protein-based hybrid functional nanostructures.
Summary
The precise synthesis of nano-devices with tailored complex structures and properties is a requisite for their use in nanotechnology and medicine. Nowadays, the technology for the generation of these devices lacks the precision to determine their properties, and is accomplished mostly by “trial and error” experimental approaches. Bottom-up self-assembly that relies on highly specific biomolecular interactions of small and simple components, is an attractive approach for nanostructure templating.
Here, we propose to overcome aforementioned challenges by using self-assembling protein building blocks as templates for nanofabrication. In nature, protein assemblies govern sophisticated structures and functions, which are inspiration to engineer novel assemblies by exploiting the same set of tools and interactions to create nanostructures with numerous potential applications in synthetic biology and nanotechnology.
We hypothesize that we can rationally assemble a variety functional nanostructures by the logical combination of simple protein building blocks with specified properties. We propose to use a designed repeat protein scaffold for which we acquired a deep understanding of its molecular structure, stability, function, and inherent assembly properties. Only few conserved residues define the structure of the building block, which allow us to mutate its sequence to modulate assembly properties and to introduce reactive functionalities without compromising the structure of the scaffolding molecule.
First, we will design a collection of protein-based nanostructures. Then, we will introduce reactive functionalities to create hybrid nanostructures with nanoparticles, metals and electro-active molecules. Finally, these conjugates will be used to build nano-devices such as nanocircuits, catalysts and electroactive materials.
The outcome of this project will be a modular versatile platform for the fabrication of multiple protein-based hybrid functional nanostructures.
Max ERC Funding
1 718 850 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-01-01, End date: 2020-12-31
Project acronym RNA ORIGAMI
Project RNA-protein Nanostructures for Synthetic Biology
Researcher (PI) Ebbe Sloth Andersen
Host Institution (HI) AARHUS UNIVERSITET
Call Details Consolidator Grant (CoG), LS9, ERC-2015-CoG
Summary Synthetic biology aims at re-engineering organisms for practical applications by designing novel biomolecular components, networks, and pathways. The field is expected to lead to cheaper drugs, sustainable fuel production, efficient diagnosis and targeted therapies for diseases. However, a major obstacle to achieve these goals is our limited ability to rationally design biomolecular structure and function. By contrast, the field of DNA nanotechnology has so far demonstrated an unprecedented ability to design and self-assemble well-defined molecular shapes, although the production method of thermal annealing is not compatible with cells. We have recently demonstrated a breakthrough method, called RNA origami, which allows the design of RNA molecules that fold into well-defined nanoscale shapes during their synthesis by an RNA polymerase. In this proposal I aim at extending this technology to produce RNA-protein nanostructures and at demonstrating their application in synthetic biology. My primary scientific hypothesis is that understanding the folding process during synthesis will help us to design nanostructures that can be produced in cells. I will design a general RNA-protein architecture that is compatible with folding during synthesis. I will investigate folding kinetics to be able to design and program the dynamical folding process. Based on this, RNA-protein nanostructures will be designed, expressed in cells, and verified, for the formation of the desired shapes. We will develop new functionalities by both rational design and selection approaches with the aim of obtaining multivalent-binding and switching properties. Finally, the functional RNA-protein nanostructures will be applied in proof-of-concept experiments to demonstrate efficient, multivalent targeting of subcellular structures, biosensing of a variety of intracellular analytes, metabolic channeling of biosynthesis pathways, and complex control of transcriptional networks.
Summary
Synthetic biology aims at re-engineering organisms for practical applications by designing novel biomolecular components, networks, and pathways. The field is expected to lead to cheaper drugs, sustainable fuel production, efficient diagnosis and targeted therapies for diseases. However, a major obstacle to achieve these goals is our limited ability to rationally design biomolecular structure and function. By contrast, the field of DNA nanotechnology has so far demonstrated an unprecedented ability to design and self-assemble well-defined molecular shapes, although the production method of thermal annealing is not compatible with cells. We have recently demonstrated a breakthrough method, called RNA origami, which allows the design of RNA molecules that fold into well-defined nanoscale shapes during their synthesis by an RNA polymerase. In this proposal I aim at extending this technology to produce RNA-protein nanostructures and at demonstrating their application in synthetic biology. My primary scientific hypothesis is that understanding the folding process during synthesis will help us to design nanostructures that can be produced in cells. I will design a general RNA-protein architecture that is compatible with folding during synthesis. I will investigate folding kinetics to be able to design and program the dynamical folding process. Based on this, RNA-protein nanostructures will be designed, expressed in cells, and verified, for the formation of the desired shapes. We will develop new functionalities by both rational design and selection approaches with the aim of obtaining multivalent-binding and switching properties. Finally, the functional RNA-protein nanostructures will be applied in proof-of-concept experiments to demonstrate efficient, multivalent targeting of subcellular structures, biosensing of a variety of intracellular analytes, metabolic channeling of biosynthesis pathways, and complex control of transcriptional networks.
Max ERC Funding
1 999 935 €
Duration
Start date: 2016-04-01, End date: 2021-03-31
Project acronym SENTIFLEX
Project Fluorescence-based photosynthesis estimates for vegetation productivity monitoring from space
Researcher (PI) Jochem VERRELST
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSITAT DE VALENCIA
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS9, ERC-2017-STG
Summary Global food security will remain a worldwide concern for the next 50 years and beyond. Agricultural production undergoes an increasing pressure by global anthropogenic changes, including rising population, increased protein demands and climatic extremes. Because of the immediate and dynamic nature of these changes, productivity monitoring measures are urgently needed to ensure both the stability and continued increase of the global food supply. Europe has expressed ambitions to keep its fingers on the pulse of its agricultural lands. In response to that, this proposal - named SENTIFLEX - is dedicated to developing a European vegetation productivity monitoring facility based on the synergy of Sentinel-3 (S3) with FLEX satellite fluorescence data. ESA's 8th Earth Explorer FLEX is the first mission specifically designed to globally measure Sun-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) emission from terrestrial vegetation. These two European Earth observation missions offer immense possibilities to increase our knowledge of the basic functioning of the Earth’s vegetation, i.e., the photosynthetic activity of plants resulting in carbon fixation. Two complementary approaches are envisioned to realize quantification of photosynthesis through satellite SIF and S3. First, the work seeks to advance the science in establishing and consolidating relationships between canopy-leaving SIF and unbiased estimates of photosynthesis of the plants, thereby disentangling the role of dynamic vegetative and atmospheric variables. Second, consolidated relationships between SIF and photosynthesis will be used to build a FLEX-S3 data processing assimilation scheme through process-based vegetation models that will deliver spatiotemporally highly resolved information on Europe’s vegetation productivity. To streamline all these datasets into a prototype vegetation productivity monitoring facility, new data processing concepts will be introduced such as the emulation of radiative transfer models.
Summary
Global food security will remain a worldwide concern for the next 50 years and beyond. Agricultural production undergoes an increasing pressure by global anthropogenic changes, including rising population, increased protein demands and climatic extremes. Because of the immediate and dynamic nature of these changes, productivity monitoring measures are urgently needed to ensure both the stability and continued increase of the global food supply. Europe has expressed ambitions to keep its fingers on the pulse of its agricultural lands. In response to that, this proposal - named SENTIFLEX - is dedicated to developing a European vegetation productivity monitoring facility based on the synergy of Sentinel-3 (S3) with FLEX satellite fluorescence data. ESA's 8th Earth Explorer FLEX is the first mission specifically designed to globally measure Sun-Induced chlorophyll Fluorescence (SIF) emission from terrestrial vegetation. These two European Earth observation missions offer immense possibilities to increase our knowledge of the basic functioning of the Earth’s vegetation, i.e., the photosynthetic activity of plants resulting in carbon fixation. Two complementary approaches are envisioned to realize quantification of photosynthesis through satellite SIF and S3. First, the work seeks to advance the science in establishing and consolidating relationships between canopy-leaving SIF and unbiased estimates of photosynthesis of the plants, thereby disentangling the role of dynamic vegetative and atmospheric variables. Second, consolidated relationships between SIF and photosynthesis will be used to build a FLEX-S3 data processing assimilation scheme through process-based vegetation models that will deliver spatiotemporally highly resolved information on Europe’s vegetation productivity. To streamline all these datasets into a prototype vegetation productivity monitoring facility, new data processing concepts will be introduced such as the emulation of radiative transfer models.
Max ERC Funding
1 499 587 €
Duration
Start date: 2018-01-01, End date: 2022-12-31
Project acronym simDNA
Project Advanced multiscale simulation of DNA
Researcher (PI) Modesto Orozco López
Host Institution (HI) FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE RECERCA BIOMEDICA (IRB BARCELONA)
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), PE4, ERC-2011-ADG_20110209
Summary The availability of new computers and software is making possible the theoretical representation of DNA, increasing then our knowledge on the behavior of one of the most relevant biological macromolecules. Unfortunately, current simulation procedures present two major problems, which handicapped their use: i) classical force-fields present well known biases, which limit their accuracy; ii) current atomistic procedures are limited to study systems in the range of 100 base pairs (around 34 nm long), while the DNA of the simplest prokaryotic organisms is one billion times larger. The main objective of this proposal is the development of a multiscale simulation technology for the study of DNA, which will cover, with different levels of resolution, but with the same physical roots, the entire range of DNA scales, from nucleobase (Ǻ-scale) to the human genome (m-scale). Our roadmap will start for the development of a polarized force-field which will be parametrized against a variety of experimental and theoretical data. In a second stage, we will analyze a very large number of DNA sequences in different epigenetic and packing states and we will create a MoDEL-like database of DNA trajectories. In a third stage we will derive coarse grained and essential dynamic-based strategies for ultra-fast accurate simulations for medium to long segments of DNA. In the last stage of this project we will develop a new mesoscopic model, which will go beyond the harmonic nearest-neighbors model, accounting for multi-modality, for neutralization-induced deformations, and for changes in DNA properties related to epigenetic changes. Using these models we expect to analyze fine details of (human) genome structure and regulation, trying to reach the connection point between physical properties of DNA, chromatine structure, epigenetic signatures and gene regulation
Summary
The availability of new computers and software is making possible the theoretical representation of DNA, increasing then our knowledge on the behavior of one of the most relevant biological macromolecules. Unfortunately, current simulation procedures present two major problems, which handicapped their use: i) classical force-fields present well known biases, which limit their accuracy; ii) current atomistic procedures are limited to study systems in the range of 100 base pairs (around 34 nm long), while the DNA of the simplest prokaryotic organisms is one billion times larger. The main objective of this proposal is the development of a multiscale simulation technology for the study of DNA, which will cover, with different levels of resolution, but with the same physical roots, the entire range of DNA scales, from nucleobase (Ǻ-scale) to the human genome (m-scale). Our roadmap will start for the development of a polarized force-field which will be parametrized against a variety of experimental and theoretical data. In a second stage, we will analyze a very large number of DNA sequences in different epigenetic and packing states and we will create a MoDEL-like database of DNA trajectories. In a third stage we will derive coarse grained and essential dynamic-based strategies for ultra-fast accurate simulations for medium to long segments of DNA. In the last stage of this project we will develop a new mesoscopic model, which will go beyond the harmonic nearest-neighbors model, accounting for multi-modality, for neutralization-induced deformations, and for changes in DNA properties related to epigenetic changes. Using these models we expect to analyze fine details of (human) genome structure and regulation, trying to reach the connection point between physical properties of DNA, chromatine structure, epigenetic signatures and gene regulation
Max ERC Funding
1 961 400 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-07-01, End date: 2017-06-30
Project acronym StAdvInn
Project Strengthening adaptive immunity via innate immunity: enhancing the CD8 T cell response by using the NKG2D ligand expressed in a herpesvirus vector
Researcher (PI) Stipan Jonjic
Host Institution (HI) SVEUCILISTE U RIJECI, MEDICINSKI FAKULTET
Call Details Advanced Grant (AdG), LS6, ERC-2012-ADG_20120314
Summary CD8+ T cells play a key role in the control of infections by intracellular pathogens. Recently, several top-notch studies provided ample evidence that NK cells are important in the regulation of CD8+ T cell response. NKG2D is an activating NK cell receptor which plays a role in the adaptive immune response by co-stimulating CD8+ T cells. Due to unique pattern of immune response, live attenuated CMVs are attractive candidates as vaccine vectors for a number of clinically relevant infections. The main idea behind this project stems from our preliminary data which suggest that a recombinant CMV vector expressing NKG2D ligand has a tremendous potential for subverting viral immunoevasion and boosting the efficiency of CD8 T cell response.
During the project we plan to systematically investigate the impact of all major innate immunity players on the CD8+ T cell response. A special focus will be given in obtaining new knowledge on the maintenance of memory CD8+ T cells during latent infection. This study will also provide novel insights on the role of NKG2D in both NK and T cell immunity. In order to test our hypothesis in vivo, we will employ state-of-the-art technology used in herpesvirus genetics coupled with high-end immune monitoring. Ultimately, we will translate our results to a human CMV vector, in order to gauge the impact of NKG2D signaling on immune response in a humanized mouse model.
We believe that the significance of the proposed study is enormous since stimulating CD8+ T cells has been widely recognized as a method of choice for vaccine development. There are relatively large number of pathogens for which the immunity acquired post-infection does not fully shelter against re-infection and disease. Therefore, we are in a desperate need for vaccines which offer superior protection compared to the one following natural infection. This study will provide groundbreaking information which will set the stage for the development of new vaccines and vaccine vectors.
Summary
CD8+ T cells play a key role in the control of infections by intracellular pathogens. Recently, several top-notch studies provided ample evidence that NK cells are important in the regulation of CD8+ T cell response. NKG2D is an activating NK cell receptor which plays a role in the adaptive immune response by co-stimulating CD8+ T cells. Due to unique pattern of immune response, live attenuated CMVs are attractive candidates as vaccine vectors for a number of clinically relevant infections. The main idea behind this project stems from our preliminary data which suggest that a recombinant CMV vector expressing NKG2D ligand has a tremendous potential for subverting viral immunoevasion and boosting the efficiency of CD8 T cell response.
During the project we plan to systematically investigate the impact of all major innate immunity players on the CD8+ T cell response. A special focus will be given in obtaining new knowledge on the maintenance of memory CD8+ T cells during latent infection. This study will also provide novel insights on the role of NKG2D in both NK and T cell immunity. In order to test our hypothesis in vivo, we will employ state-of-the-art technology used in herpesvirus genetics coupled with high-end immune monitoring. Ultimately, we will translate our results to a human CMV vector, in order to gauge the impact of NKG2D signaling on immune response in a humanized mouse model.
We believe that the significance of the proposed study is enormous since stimulating CD8+ T cells has been widely recognized as a method of choice for vaccine development. There are relatively large number of pathogens for which the immunity acquired post-infection does not fully shelter against re-infection and disease. Therefore, we are in a desperate need for vaccines which offer superior protection compared to the one following natural infection. This study will provide groundbreaking information which will set the stage for the development of new vaccines and vaccine vectors.
Max ERC Funding
1 754 897 €
Duration
Start date: 2013-05-01, End date: 2018-04-30
Project acronym STRP-DIFFERENTIATION
Project BIOMOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF STREPTOMYCES DIFFERENTIATION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH SECONDARY METABOLITE PRODUCTION
Researcher (PI) Ángel Manteca Fernández
Host Institution (HI) UNIVERSIDAD DE OVIEDO
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS9, ERC-2011-StG_20101109
Summary Streptomyces is a gram positive bacterium characterized by a complex developmental cycle. It is considered as a multicellular prokaryotic model that includes programmed cell death and sporulation. Streptomycetes are very important in industry, since they produce two thirds of clinically relevant secondary metabolites. Streptomyces and other bacteria with complex life cycles represent the evolutionary origin of some of the protein domains involved in the most important eukaryotic signalling pathways.
The classical Streptomyces developmental cycle focused in the sporulation. Industrial fermentations are mainly produced in liquid cultures (large bioreactors), conditions in which there is not sporulation, and it was traditionally considered that there was no differentiation. During his predoctoral training, A. Manteca re-evaluated Streptomyces development in solid sporulating cultures, laying the foundation of a new research line about Streptomyces differentiation totally independent to the investigations of his PhD supervisor (Streptomyces nucleases). During his postdoctoral training, he continued working in this emerging research line analyzing the relation between differentiation and secondary metabolite production, reporting the first study in which antibiotic production could be associated with hyphae differentiation in liquid. Later, he focused in the proteomic analysis of Streptomyces differentiation, creating the most complete database about proteome variations associated with hyphae differentiation.
The main objective of this project will be characterizing the biomolecular pathways behind Streptomyces differentiation, and their homologies and differences with eukaryotic signalling pathways. We will use the innovative developmental model elaborated by us and the information about the proteome differences during Streptomyces differentiation, to perform large scale mutagenesis and exhaustive phenotypic / bioinformatic characterization of these mutants.
Summary
Streptomyces is a gram positive bacterium characterized by a complex developmental cycle. It is considered as a multicellular prokaryotic model that includes programmed cell death and sporulation. Streptomycetes are very important in industry, since they produce two thirds of clinically relevant secondary metabolites. Streptomyces and other bacteria with complex life cycles represent the evolutionary origin of some of the protein domains involved in the most important eukaryotic signalling pathways.
The classical Streptomyces developmental cycle focused in the sporulation. Industrial fermentations are mainly produced in liquid cultures (large bioreactors), conditions in which there is not sporulation, and it was traditionally considered that there was no differentiation. During his predoctoral training, A. Manteca re-evaluated Streptomyces development in solid sporulating cultures, laying the foundation of a new research line about Streptomyces differentiation totally independent to the investigations of his PhD supervisor (Streptomyces nucleases). During his postdoctoral training, he continued working in this emerging research line analyzing the relation between differentiation and secondary metabolite production, reporting the first study in which antibiotic production could be associated with hyphae differentiation in liquid. Later, he focused in the proteomic analysis of Streptomyces differentiation, creating the most complete database about proteome variations associated with hyphae differentiation.
The main objective of this project will be characterizing the biomolecular pathways behind Streptomyces differentiation, and their homologies and differences with eukaryotic signalling pathways. We will use the innovative developmental model elaborated by us and the information about the proteome differences during Streptomyces differentiation, to perform large scale mutagenesis and exhaustive phenotypic / bioinformatic characterization of these mutants.
Max ERC Funding
1 341 985 €
Duration
Start date: 2012-01-01, End date: 2017-06-30
Project acronym SURFINK
Project Functional materials from on-surface linkage of molecular precursors
Researcher (PI) Dimas Garcia de Oteyza Feldermann
Host Institution (HI) FUNDACION DONOSTIA INTERNATIONAL PHYSICS CENTER
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), PE4, ERC-2014-STG
Summary With the advent of self-assembly, increasingly high hopes are being placed on supramolecular materials as future active components of a variety of devices. The main challenge remains the design and assembly of supramolecular structures with emerging functionalities tailored according to our needs. In this respect, the extensive research over the last decades has led to impressive progress in the self-assembly of molecular structures. However, self-assembly typically relies on non-covalent interactions, which are relatively weak and limit the structure’s stability and often even their functionality. Only recently the first covalently bonded organic networks were synthesized directly on substrate surfaces under ultra-high-vacuum, whose structure could be defined by appropriate design of the molecular precursors. The potential of this approach was immediately recognized and has attracted great attention. However, the field is still in its infancy, and the aim of this project is to lift this new concept to higher levels of sophistication reaching real functionality.
For optimum tunability of the material’s properties, its structure must be controlled to the atomic level and allow great levels of complexity and perfection. Complexity can be reached e.g. with hybrid structures combining different types of precursors. In this project, this hardly explored approach will be applied to three families of materials of utmost timeliness and relevance: graphene nanoribbons, porous frameworks, and donor-acceptor networks. Along the pursuit of these objectives, side challenges that will be addressed are the extension of our currently available chemistry-on-surfaces toolbox by identification of new reactions, optimized reaction conditions, surfaces, and ultimately their combination strategies. A battery of tools, with special emphasis on scanning probe microscopies, will be used to visualize and characterize the reactions and physical-chemical properties of the resulting materials.
Summary
With the advent of self-assembly, increasingly high hopes are being placed on supramolecular materials as future active components of a variety of devices. The main challenge remains the design and assembly of supramolecular structures with emerging functionalities tailored according to our needs. In this respect, the extensive research over the last decades has led to impressive progress in the self-assembly of molecular structures. However, self-assembly typically relies on non-covalent interactions, which are relatively weak and limit the structure’s stability and often even their functionality. Only recently the first covalently bonded organic networks were synthesized directly on substrate surfaces under ultra-high-vacuum, whose structure could be defined by appropriate design of the molecular precursors. The potential of this approach was immediately recognized and has attracted great attention. However, the field is still in its infancy, and the aim of this project is to lift this new concept to higher levels of sophistication reaching real functionality.
For optimum tunability of the material’s properties, its structure must be controlled to the atomic level and allow great levels of complexity and perfection. Complexity can be reached e.g. with hybrid structures combining different types of precursors. In this project, this hardly explored approach will be applied to three families of materials of utmost timeliness and relevance: graphene nanoribbons, porous frameworks, and donor-acceptor networks. Along the pursuit of these objectives, side challenges that will be addressed are the extension of our currently available chemistry-on-surfaces toolbox by identification of new reactions, optimized reaction conditions, surfaces, and ultimately their combination strategies. A battery of tools, with special emphasis on scanning probe microscopies, will be used to visualize and characterize the reactions and physical-chemical properties of the resulting materials.
Max ERC Funding
1 894 723 €
Duration
Start date: 2015-09-01, End date: 2020-08-31
Project acronym SWCD
Project Development of super-wheat crops by introgressing agronomic traits from related wild species
Researcher (PI) Maria-Pilar Prieto
Host Institution (HI) AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DEINVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS
Call Details Starting Grant (StG), LS9, ERC-2009-StG
Summary Wheat is one of the most important food crops in the world and understanding its genetics and genome organisation is of great value for genetics and plant breeding purposes. Despite is genome complexity (polyploidy), hexaploid and tetraploid wheats behave as diploids during meiosis. This means that each chromosome only recognises its identical (homologue) to pair and not the related chromosomes (homeologues). There are several pairing homologous (Ph) genes controlling chromosome pairing in wheat during meiosis. The strongest effect is associated with the Ph1 locus, which is located on the long arm on chromosome 5B. Ph1 appears to sense homology prior to the chromosomes coming into contact with each other at early meiosis. Thus, if the chromosomes are true homologues, they perfectly recognise each other, chromatin remodelling is synchronized and allows pairing and recombination to occur. If the chromosomes are homoeologous (related), remodelling is not synchronized and the chromosomes fail to pair and recombine. In the absence of Ph1, all chromosomes can remodel without the requirement for the presence of an identical or near identical chromosome, and this increases the chance of pairing between related chromosomes in addition to pairing between true homologues. In this project we want to analyse deeper this Ph1 behaviour and we also want to exploit ph1 mutants as a tool for wheat breeding programs to promote inter-specific recombination between related wild species. In fact, Hordeum chilense (wild barley with interesting agronomic traits for wheat breeding) introgressions will be developed into durum wheat to transfer desirable agronomic traits from this wild barley into wheat, like resistance to diseases or the increment in carotene content. Introgression lines will be crosses with ph1 mutants to promote inter-specific recombination H. chilense-wheat, reduce the size of the H. chilense chromosome fragment. New wheat varieties will be generated.
Summary
Wheat is one of the most important food crops in the world and understanding its genetics and genome organisation is of great value for genetics and plant breeding purposes. Despite is genome complexity (polyploidy), hexaploid and tetraploid wheats behave as diploids during meiosis. This means that each chromosome only recognises its identical (homologue) to pair and not the related chromosomes (homeologues). There are several pairing homologous (Ph) genes controlling chromosome pairing in wheat during meiosis. The strongest effect is associated with the Ph1 locus, which is located on the long arm on chromosome 5B. Ph1 appears to sense homology prior to the chromosomes coming into contact with each other at early meiosis. Thus, if the chromosomes are true homologues, they perfectly recognise each other, chromatin remodelling is synchronized and allows pairing and recombination to occur. If the chromosomes are homoeologous (related), remodelling is not synchronized and the chromosomes fail to pair and recombine. In the absence of Ph1, all chromosomes can remodel without the requirement for the presence of an identical or near identical chromosome, and this increases the chance of pairing between related chromosomes in addition to pairing between true homologues. In this project we want to analyse deeper this Ph1 behaviour and we also want to exploit ph1 mutants as a tool for wheat breeding programs to promote inter-specific recombination between related wild species. In fact, Hordeum chilense (wild barley with interesting agronomic traits for wheat breeding) introgressions will be developed into durum wheat to transfer desirable agronomic traits from this wild barley into wheat, like resistance to diseases or the increment in carotene content. Introgression lines will be crosses with ph1 mutants to promote inter-specific recombination H. chilense-wheat, reduce the size of the H. chilense chromosome fragment. New wheat varieties will be generated.
Max ERC Funding
600 000 €
Duration
Start date: 2010-01-01, End date: 2015-12-31
