Innovating Works

OXYGEN SENSING

Financiado
Acute oxygen sensing and oxygen tolerance in C. elegans
Oxygen (O2) levels can vary enormously in the environment, which induces dramatic behavioral and physiological changes to resident animals. Adaptations to O2 variations can be either acute or sustained. How animals detect and resp... Oxygen (O2) levels can vary enormously in the environment, which induces dramatic behavioral and physiological changes to resident animals. Adaptations to O2 variations can be either acute or sustained. How animals detect and respond to the changes of O2 availability remains elusive at the molecular level. In particular, what is the precise mechanism of acute O2 sensing, what are the primary sensor for acute hypoxia, and why do neurons of various species exhibit completely different sensitivity to hypoxic challenges? The research proposed here aims at addressing these intriguing but challenging questions in the model system nematode C. elegans, which offers unique advantages to systematically dissect O2 sensing at both genetic and neural circuit levels. C. elegans responds dramatically to acute O2 variations by altering its locomotory speed. We will make use of this robust behavioral response to O2 stimulation for high-throughput genetic screens, aiming to identify a collection of molecules critical for acute O2 sensing. These molecules will be subsequently characterized in the context of a well-described nervous system of C. elegans. Our findings will offer the opportunity to shed light on conserved principles of acute O2 sensing that are operating in the O2 sensing systems in humans such as carotid body. In addition to its robust responses to O2 variation, C. elegans exhibits remarkable tolerance to a complete lack of O2, anoxic exposure. My team will thoroughly investigate anoxia tolerance of C. elegans by performing a screen for anoxia-sensitive mutants that has previously been challenging. The discoveries will allow us to delineate the molecular underpinning of anoxia tolerance in C. elegans, and to inspire other researchers to develop better strategies to cope with hypoxic challenges caused by certain diseases such as stroke and ischemia, which are the most causes of human deaths in developed countries. ver más
31/12/2024
1M€
Duración del proyecto: 76 meses Fecha Inicio: 2018-08-24
Fecha Fin: 2024-12-31

Línea de financiación: concedida

El organismo H2020 notifico la concesión del proyecto el día 2018-08-24
Línea de financiación objetivo El proyecto se financió a través de la siguiente ayuda:
ERC-2018-STG: ERC Starting Grant
Cerrada hace 7 años
Presupuesto El presupuesto total del proyecto asciende a 1M€
Líder del proyecto
UMEA UNIVERSITET No se ha especificado una descripción o un objeto social para esta compañía.
Perfil tecnológico TRL 4-5