Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Investigating fatty acid metabolism for sustainable farming of cobia Rachycentron canadum L., a promising candidate for diversifying European aquaculture (COBIAGENE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-02-01
End date: 2011-01-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 169957.94
EU funding (EUR): 169957.94
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Fish are the major dietary source for humans of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) with important roles in human health. With declining fisheries, farmed fish constitute an increasing proportion of the fish in the food basket. n-3 HUFA in farmed fish has been obtained using fish oils (FO), derived from feed grade marine fisheries, in the feeds. This practice is not sustainable, and will constrain growth of aquaculture and will further pressurise these dwindling stocks. In this scenario, sustainable alternatives to FO are urgently required, with vegetable oils (VO) the prime candidates. However, VO are rich in short chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) but devoid of the n-3 HUFA abundant in FO. As with all vertebrates, PUFA are essential in the diet of fish, but requirements vary with species. Generally, in marine fish, the dietary requirement is for HUFA, rather than shorter chain PUFA found in VO. Feeding marine fish on VO can reduce health condition, and also lower the n-3 HUFA content of the flesh compromising their nutritional value to the human consumer. HUFA can be biosynthesised from short-chain PUFA in reactions catalysed by fatty acid desaturase enzymes. Evidence suggests that the dependence of marine fish on dietary HUFA is caused by deficiency in the activity of one or more of the key fatty acid desaturase enzyme needed for its synthesis. The objective of this project is to study these enzymes in cobia Rachycentron canadum, a marine fish with a huge growth rate when fed on FO. This growth rate and the production of healthy fish cannot be maintained when fed VO diets and so, as a first step to understanding the mechanisms underpinning the effects of VO feeding, we plan to clone and characterise the fatty acid desaturase enzymes in cobia. Additionally, the project will contribute to diversification of European aquaculture and strengthening of its leadership in global aquaculture sustainability.

Keywords: aquaculture diversification,cobia,fatty acid metabolism,nutrition,polyunsaturated fatty acids,sustainability,vegetable oils,fish oils.
Molecular mechanisms of germ cell migration across the mammalian blood-testis barrier (MIGBTB)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Sweden,Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-01-01
End date: 2010-12-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 242672.25
EU funding (EUR): 242672.25
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

During spermatogenesis, germ cells located in the basal compartment of the seminiferous epithelium of the testis migrate across the blood-testis barrier (BTB) to continue differentiation on the luminal side. This trans-epithelial migration (TEM) requires regular restructuring of junctions present in the BTB. How germ cells pass the BTB, which harbours one of the tightest junctions present in the body, without compromising the integrity of the BTB is poorly understood. Several hypotheses have been put forward, but the mechanism remains unknown. We have recently published evidence for the existence of an intermediate compartment harbouring germ cells in transit across the BTB. This compartment is composed of the tight junction proteins occludin, claudin-3 and CAR. Claudin-3 and CAR appear to be unique to the intermediate compartment since these proteins are not general components of the BTB, and could therefore be used as biological markers. This application is based on these findings. We plan to use several different innovative approaches to uncover mechanisms for TEM and the role of the intermediate compartment in this process. 3D reconstructions of germ cells during TEM will be produced using several imaging techniques including the novel and powerful method of Dual Beam Microscopy. Integrity across the BTB will be analyzed by using tracers of defined size, protein composition of the intermediate compartment will be analyzed using a combination of imaging and gene expression tools and an in vitro model system will be set up using primary cells isolated from testis. Finally, the role of CAR in TEM will be analysed using a conditional CAR knockout mouse that was recently constructed in our laboratory. We expect that results will lead to new insights into mechanisms governing transit of germ cells across the BTB. The study will also be of general interest to reproductive biologists analysing male infertility and to researchers developing new male contraceptives.

Keywords: endocrinology,testis,spermatogenesis,blood-testis barrier,coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor,car,ctx
FT, a global regulator of plant flowering and architecture (PHYTOMER)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-08-01
End date: 2010-07-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 169390.93
EU funding (EUR): 169390.93
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The floral transition has been an excellent system to study the molecular basis of primordia fate determination in response to environmental conditions in plants. In Arabidopsis, long days result in the transcription of the potent floral stimulator FT in the leaves. Transport of FT protein to the SAM enables an interaction between FT and FD to occur. This interaction leads to the expression of floral homeotic genes, and the subsequent programming of primordia as flowers. On the other hand, it is critically important for the plant to have a system for counteracting the floral promoting effects of FT/FD in part of the shoot to maintain vegetative stem cells and indeterminacy. In Arabidopsis, this role is carried out by TFL1, which acts in combination with FD to repress expression of flowering genes. In addition to FD, there is a paralog of FD, FDP, which appears to have similar functions to FD and be partially redundant with FD in activity. FDP has a very similar expression pattern to FD, and will therefore be considered in parallel with FD. The main objectives of the research project described in this proposal are: on the one hand figuring out what the components required for the FT/FD/FDP signalling module are. For this purpose I shall screen mutagenised tfl1-1 plants since in the absence of TFL1 protein, FT activity is greatly enhanced and this plants therefore provide an excellent genetic system to search for additional factors that are required for FT signalling which might not be revealed in a wild-type situation where FT is usually limiting. Furthermore, I aim to know what the cis-elements determining FD/FDP expression are by using a series of transgenic plants containing deletions in FD and FDP promoters in order to characterise the elements within FD and FDP promoters which are essential for their activity. And I also aim to know what the target genes of FD and FDP transcription factors are using the ChIP on chip technology.

Keywords: arabidopsis,chip on chip,cis-elements,development,fdp,florigen,flowering,gene mapping,phytomer,plant molecular biology,primordia fate,tfl1,tiling array,transcription factors
Spatial Heterogeneity of Resources: a mediator of large herbivore population stability? (SPHERE)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Norway
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2009-07-01
End date: 2011-06-30
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 198421.86
EU funding (EUR): 198421.86
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The overall objective of SPHERE is to explore the role of spatial heterogeneity of resources as a mediator of large herbivore population stability in African savannas. Recent studies predict that the increased variability in rainfall that is predicted under local climate change scenarios and the resulting temporal variability in resource availability will lead to severe declines in African herbivore populations. However, new theory predicts that spatial heterogeneity of resources can act as a buffer against such temporal heterogeneity. Up to now this theory awaits empirical testing. African savanna grasslands are an ideal system to test this theory, with characteristic grazing lawns as a clearly visible aspect of spatial resource heterogeneity. Several grazer species concentrate foraging in these lawns but it is unclear how lawn abundance and spatial distribution affects grazer population dynamics on a larger scale. SPHERE will use this system to investigate the hypothesized effect of resource heterogeneity on population stability. Moreover, SPHERE will advance current theory by including inter-specific differences, specifically body mass and digestive physiology. Both strongly influence herbivore resource requirement. Finally, it will link population-level responses to demographic processes by testing how resource heterogeneity affects survival of different age-classes. To this end SPHERE will quantify lawn distribution in two South-African reserves and relate it to spatially explicit demographic and long-term census data of six herbivore species that differ in body mass and digestive system. The fellow will be based at the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo. CEES will provide the candidate with excellent training opportunities in population biology, ungulate ecology and advanced statistics. In addition, the complementary skills of European collaborators will further ensure the feasibility and high quality of the fellowship.

Keywords: population biology,large herbivore ecology,savanna ecology,conservation biology,spatial heterogeneity,resource ecology,climate change,demographic modeling,tropical ecology
Cell Biology of SRF cofactors (SRF COFACTORS)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-06-01
End date: 2010-05-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 177740.04
EU funding (EUR): 177740.04
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Serum response factor (SRF) regulates the expression of immediate-early genes as well as the expression of many muscle-specific genes. Differential regulation of the expression is achieved by exclusive binding of specific coactivators. MAL and MKL2, two coactivators of the myocardin family link SRF activity to a Rho-actin signalling pathway. Their activity is controlled through regulated interaction with G-actin, which is mediated by an RPEL domain. Rho-activation and G-actin depletion leads to accumulation of MAL in the nucleus where it activates transcription. Recent results show, that actin binding controls MAL activity at multiple levels. Actin binding inhibits MAL nuclear import, promotes MAL nuclear export and inhibits transcriptional activation by MAL. A major unresolved question is the mechanism by which actin binding regulates these events. In the proposed project, I will address this question by developing a system to track MAL in real time and study the interactions between MAL and actin and between MAL and SRF in live cells. I plan to use FRET/FLIM to assess the real time dynamics and changes in the localisation of MAL-actin interactions and the interaction of isolated RPEL domain with actin. I will investigate the stoichiometry of MAL-actin interaction, in vivo as well as in vitro. I will use FRAP analysis to assess changes in the mobility of MAL following stimulation, and compare the kinetics with that previous obtained for the MAL-actin interaction by FRET, and perform detailed in vitro actin binding studies. Additionally, I plan to elucidate actin’s interaction with members of the other family of RPEL motif-containing proteins, the Phactr/Scapinin family. By applying this wide variety of biophysical techniques I hope to understand the mechanism of the actin-dependent regulation of MAL activity in more detail.

Keywords: cell biology,biophysics,cancer research,biochemistry
Mass transfer of metals and sulfur between mafic silicate melts and volatiles: an interdisciplinary approach (MAGMA)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Outgoing Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-1-IOF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-11-15
End date: 2011-11-14
Duration (months): 36.0
Total project cost (EUR): 237981.03
EU funding (EUR): 237981.03
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A systematic experimental study will be conducted to obtain quantitative information on the distribution of Cu, Au and S between andesitic and basaltic silicate melts and volatile phases. The experiments will be carried out in cold seal and internally heated pressure vessels, at various conditions characteristic of upper crustal magma reservoirs. The fluid phase will be trapped as synthetic fluid inclusions in mafic minerals or in fine grained mineral traps at the experimental run conditions. The chemical composition of the phases and the speciation of the elements will be analyzed using LA-ICPMS and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy, respectively. From these data, the partition coefficients of S, Cu and Au between the fluid and the melt will be calculated and interpreted in a thermodynamic framework. The results will be used to build mass transfer models to assess the efficiency of the spatial redistribution of S, Cu and Au through volatiles within complex magmatic reservoirs at various physical and chemical conditions. These models will lead to a better understanding of processes responsible for formation of porphyry-type ore deposits and the controls on the composition of emitted gases by active volcanoes.

Keywords: petrochemistry,petrology,economic geology,earth science
Ectomycorrhizal fungi and the stability of soil organic matter in a changing Arctic (ECTOARC)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Sweden
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-03-01
End date: 2010-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 177320.91
EU funding (EUR): 177320.91
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The Arctic is currently facing large changes in climatic conditions, with expected consequences for the vulnerable terrestrial ecosystems. Arctic ecosystems contain a large proportion of the global soil carbon stock, and there is a risk that environmental changes will lead to a release of carbon dioxide from this pool substantially amplifying the atmospheric warming potential. However, populations of plants and microorganisms will likely change with changed environmental conditions. An increased abundance of plants associating with ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi has already been observed across the arctic tundra biome as a response to recent warming, and this trend is expected to continue. Recent research suggests that EM mycelia contribute disproportionately relative to plant inputs to soil organic matter formation. Hence, increased abundance of EM plants and fungi could partly counterbalance the expected respiratory loss of carbon from tundra soils in the future. However, EM fungi also contribute to the degradation of organic matter by producing extracellular enzymes thereby decreasing carbon storage. It is crucial to sort out which of these mechanisms dominate in different ecosystems and under different environmental conditions in order to build reliable conceptual and predictive models describing the future carbon balance of the Arctic. This project is the first to explore the role of EM fungi as drivers of soil carbon dynamics in the Arctic in relation to global change. The project explores responses of EM fungi at three interlinked levels, that is, their abundance, species composition and functioning, to long-term field experiments simulating climate change in the sub- and high arctic. The project combines methods to measure ecological pools and processes (soil C and N pools, 13C and 15N natural abundance) with novel methods for studying EM community composition and functioning (fungal ingrowth bags, molecular community analyses, exoenzyme production).

Keywords: arctic ecosystems,carbon cycling,climate change,ectomycorrhizal fungi,fungal ingrowth bags,isotope natural abundance,long-term field experiments,molecular community analysis,soil biology
Elucidation of a microRNA turnover machinery in C. elegans (MIRT)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: International Incoming Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Switzerland
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-4-2-IIF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-03-01
End date: 2010-02-28
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 179297.73
EU funding (EUR): 179297.73
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a large class of noncoding regulatory RNAs. In animals miRNAs base-pair with the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of their target mRNAs to target them for cleavage or translational repression. Repressed target mRNAs accumulate in cytoplasmic structures termed P-bodies, where some targets may be degraded. Other targets appear to be stable and can subsequently be re-expressed. In either case, target degradation or re-expression, the fate of the repressing miRNAs remains obscure and we do not know whether they are recycled or degraded. Similarly, while miRNA expression patterns have been observed to be very dynamic, nothing is known about a “clearance” mechanism that could remove miRNAs from a cell upon transition from one developmental state to another. As both miRNA under- and over-expression can cause developmental abnormalities and human diseases such as cancer can result. These observations indicate the need for faithful control of miRNA levels in the cell. Generally, the accumulation of any cellular RNA is regulated by balancing transcription and RNA degradation. But while we have gained considerable knowledge about miRNA biogenesis, we know nothing about miRNA turnover, let alone quality control or surveillance mechanisms. I propose to perform genetic and biochemical analyses to identify and characterize components of miRNA turnover/degradation machinery in C. elegans. By addressing the lifespan (half-life) and turn-over of miRNAs in vivo, this work has the potential to generate novel insights into normal development and disease, especially many forms of cancer that are often associated with deregulation of miRNAs. Ultimately the identified components can serve as spring-boards to venture into the mammalian systems and provide crucial insights for our understanding of miRNA function in animals.

Keywords: mirna,let-7,rna turn-over,c. elegans,development
Dynamic single-molecule approach to DNA homologous recombination (DYNASING)

Framework: FP7 — People
Programme: Marie-Curie Actions
Theme: Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Destination: Intra-European Fellowships
Action type: Support for training and career development of researchers (Marie Curie)
Countries involved: Netherlands
Call:  (FP7-PEOPLE-2007-2-1-IEF, 2007)
Start date: 2008-04-01
End date: 2010-03-31
Duration (months): 24.0
Total project cost (EUR): 226806.85
EU funding (EUR): 226806.85
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

The goal of the research is to understand the mechanisms and biological function of complex genome transactions such as homologous recombination. Homologous recombination, the exchange of sequences between homologous DNA molecules, is essential for accurate genome duplication, DNA damage repair and chromosome segregation. Single molecule analysis provides information on intermediate states, functional and structural variability and the distribution of variable states that cannot be recovered from bulk biochemical assays. The random variation in the details of molecular behavior, that we can now determine with single molecule mechanistic studies are of great importance for understanding how relatively simple biochemical activities are combined to create complex and adaptable living systems. Understanding the mechanism of homologous recombination as well as its control requires specific detailed descriptions of the conformational dynamics of the recombinase proteins and their DNA substrates, specifically the assembly and disassembly of the active recombinase-DNA nucleoprotein filament. Recombination proteins labelled with a flourophore will be use in single molecule fluorescence microscopy assays. The main objectives are: 1 Analyze the dynamic rearrangements between DNA and Rad51 to gain insight into the key events that drive DNA strand exchange. 2 Analyze the effect of accessory factors of Rad51 on its assembly/disassembly from DNA to gain insight into mechanisms that limit homologous recombination to appropriate locations. DNA damaging agents, such as ionizing radiation and interstrand DNA crosslinking compounds, provide important treatment modalities against cancer. Among the proteins implicated in repair of DNA damage induced by these agents are the homologous recombination. By analyzing the mechanism through which these proteins cooperate in DSB repair, we expect to provide insights into the molecular assembly pathways of the ‘guardians of the genome’.

Keywords: homologous recombination,dna repair,single molecule experiment,tirfm,biomechanics,molecular biophysics