UbiCODE — European Research Training to Decipher The Ub Code : identification of potential biomarkers and drug targets

Results in brief

European Research Training to Decipher The Ub Code : identification of potential biomarkers and drug targets

Post-translational modifications (PTM) by members of the Ubiquitin (Ub) family represent an efficient way to regulate protein function at several levels: to change their localisation, activity, their interaction with partner proteins or their stability at the right time and cellular compartment, according to the cell requirements. Defects in this homeostatic equilibrium result in pathologies such as cancer, neurodegeneration, inflammation or multiple infections. For this reason, this research area has become very attractive for fundamental scientists as well as for the pharmaceutical industry (Pharma) aiming to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Interestingly, Ub and Ub-Like (UbL) proteins can modify themselves, forming intricate and complex chains. This landscape was recently expanded with the discovery of the formation of heterologous chains among UbL molecules including SUMO or NEDD8 but also other PTMs such as phosphorylation, acetylation or ribosylation. This unsuspected complexity of what is now called «The Ubiquitin Code», an unexplored universal language that needs to be deciphered to understand protein homeostasis and its associated pathologies. To decrypt this complex code requires joint collaborative multidisciplinary efforts at all levels, including the use of distinct molecular systems and model organisms and the latest technological developments to explore chemical, biochemical, molecular, pharmacological and clinical aspects of protein modification by members of the Ub family. UbiCODE represents an unprecedented effort to understand «the Ubiquitin Code» in an integrated manner. Our key scientific challenge is to investigate how chain diversity is generated (written), regulated (edited), recognised (read) and connected with effector functions (interpreted) to regulate cellular plasticity. Our main hypothesis is that a better knowledge of the “writers”, “editors”, “readers” and “interpreters” of this new universal language will help us to understand the encoded message, which will be crucial to predict physiologic and pathologic processes.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Essential role of protein modification by members of the Ubiquitin family: Post-translational modifications (PTM) by members of the Ubiquitin (Ub) family represent an efficient way to regulate protein function at several levels: to change their localisation, activity, their interaction with partner proteins or their stability at the right time and cellular compartment, according to the cell requirements. Defects in this homeostatic equilibrium result in pathologies such as cancer, neurodegeneration, inflammation or multiple infections. For this reason, this research area has become very attractive for fundamental scientists as well as for the pharmaceutical industry aiming to identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Ub family members hold a homeostatic equilibrium within the cell and are interconnected in various ways including the regulation of enzymes that control the modified status of target proteins. Interestingly, Ub and Ub-like (UbL) proteins can modify themselves, forming intricate and complex chains. This landscape has recently expanded with the discovery of the formation of heterologous chains among UbL molecules including SUMO or NEDD8 but also other PTMs such as phosphorylation or acetylation. This unsuspected complexity of what is now known as the «Ubiquitin Code», which is an unknown universal language that needs to be deciphered to understand protein homeostasis and its associated pathologies. To decrypt this complex code requires joint collaborative multidisciplinary efforts at all levels, including the use of distinct molecular systems and model organisms and the latest technological developments to explore chemical, biochemical, molecular, pharmacological and clinical aspects of protein modification by members of the Ub family. UbiCODE represents an unprecedented effort to understand this code in an integrated manner.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS · ParisCoordinatorFrance
ACADEMISCH ZIEKENHUIS LEIDEN · LeidenNetherlands
ASOCIACION CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION COOPERATIVA EN BIOCIENCIAS · DERIO VIZCAYASpain
Basque Country University · LeioaUnknown Region
FRIEDRICH MIESCHER INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH FONDATION · BASELSwitzerland
HYBRIGENICS SA · ParisFrance
INSTITUT FUR MOLEKULARE BIOLOGIE GGMBH · MainzGermany
JOHANN WOLFGANG GOETHE-UNIVERSITAET FRANKFURT AM MAIN · Frankfurt Am MainGermany
MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV · MUNCHENGermany
MERCK KOMMANDITGESELLSCHAFT AUF AKTIEN · DarmstadtGermany
NOVO NORDISK A/S · BagsvaerdDenmark
Nova Medical School · LisboaUnknown Region
Novartis · BaselUnknown Region
THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL · LIVERPOOLUnited Kingdom
The Naked Scientists Ltd · CambridgeUnknown Region
UBIQ BIO BV · AmsterdamNetherlands
UNITED KINGDOM RESEARCH AND INNOVATION · SWINDONUnited Kingdom
UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE · DundeeUnited Kingdom
Ubiquigent LtdUnited Kingdom
YELLOW RESEARCH · AmsterdamNetherlands

UbiCODE · European Research Training to Decipher The Ub Code : identification of potential biomarkers and drug targets

Results in brief

European Research Training to Decipher The Ub Code : identification of potential biomarkers and drug targets

Project objective

Participants

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