ELEGANSFUSION

Mechanisms of cell fusion in eukaryotes

Coordinatore	TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY    more Spiacenti, non ci sono informazioni su questo coordinatore. Contattare Fabio per maggiori infomrazioni, grazie.
Nazionalità Coordinatore	Israel [IL]
Totale costo	2˙380˙000 €
EC contributo	2˙380˙000 €
Programma	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)
Code Call	ERC-2010-AdG_20100317
Funding Scheme	ERC-AG
Anno di inizio	2011
Periodo (anno-mese-giorno)	2011-05-01   -   2016-04-30

 Partecipanti

#	participant	country	role	EC contrib. [€]
1	THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD  Organization address address: University Offices, Wellington Square city: OXFORD postcode: OX1 2JD contact info Titolo: Dr. Nome: Stephen Cognome: Conway Email: send email Telefono: +44 1865 289811 Fax: +44 1865 289801	UK (OXFORD)	beneficiary	15˙000.00
2	TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY  Organization address address: TECHNION CITY - SENATE BUILDING city: HAIFA postcode: 32000 contact info Titolo: Mr. Nome: Mark Cognome: Davison Email: send email Telefono: +972 4 829 3097 Fax: +972 4 823 2958	IL (HAIFA)	hostInstitution	2˙365˙000.00
3	TECHNION - ISRAEL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY  Organization address address: TECHNION CITY - SENATE BUILDING city: HAIFA postcode: 32000 contact info Titolo: Prof. Nome: Benjamin Cognome: Podbilewicz Email: send email Telefono: +972 4 829 3454 Fax: +972 4 822 5153	IL (HAIFA)	hostInstitution	2˙365˙000.00

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'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 fusion AIM 2 Find the sperm-egg fusion proteins (fusogens) in C. elegans AIM 3 Identify the myoblast fusogens in mammals AIM 4 Test fusogens using functional cell fusion assays in heterologous systems

Identifying 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.'