PSYNegrT · Deciphering the Negr1 interacting network in physiological conditions and in psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2021-03-01 → 2023-03-07
- EU contribution
- €183,473
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Deciphering the Negr1 interacting network in physiological conditions and in psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders affect a large and growing number of people in Europe (48 million, 12% of the population in 2017) and worldwide (970 million, 13.2% of the population in 2017). There are still no therapies for the core diagnostic symptoms of most of these disorders. This is likely due to poor knowledge of the mechanisms underlying their pathogenesis. Obejctive of PSYNegrT was to deepen our knowledge by investigating specific elements involved in brain connectivity. By discoverying new elements that play a pivotal role in the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders we greatly advance our understanding of these disorders. In the long term these discoveries could open new therapeutic paradigms for the treatment of these disorders.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
There are no therapies for the core symptoms of most psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. Compelling evidence indicates that most of these disorders feature aberrant neuronal connectivity. Importantly, the neuronal growth regulator 1 (Negr1) is associated with neuronal connectivity and diverse brain disorders. Thus, a better understanding of how Negr1 exerts its functions may reveal general principles underlying these pathological conditions. Previous results show that Negr1 does not operate as single entity. Negr1 functions by physically interacting with other proteins. In this context, PSYNegrT will investigate the hypothesis that the brain’s Negr1 interacting-protein network is remodeled in psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders. The fellow will investigate the role of specific Negr1 complexes in diverse brain disorders and their possible exploitation as drug targets. To this aim, he will identify and characterize the brain’s Negr1 interacting-protein networks by proteomic, biochemistry, and molecular biology studies. Computational and mutagenesis studies will reveal structural features for molecular interactions at the interface between Negr1 and selected partner proteins. This project will thus: i) produce the first exhaustive list of cerebral Negr1-interacting proteins in physiological conditions ii) identify the protein-protein interactions involved in Negr1-mediated pathological effects.With PSYNegrT, the fellow will increase his research skills and expertise in molecular biology and modeling, thus flourishing into an independent group leader. The project will be a breakthrough in our understanding of the causes of diverse brain disorders, and it will reveal certain general principles underlying their pathophysiology. This will facilitate structure-based efforts to design small molecules, peptides, or nanobodies to target Negr1-mediated protein-protein interactions involved in these disorders.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- FONDAZIONE ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI TECNOLOGIA · GenovaCoordinatorItaly
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union