Extracellular matrix molecular aging is characterized by the accumulation of alterations on its main components. The PELICAN project attempts to answer two interdependent questions: (1) Can elastin peptides, produced during the aging of the extracellular matrix, interact with free calcium ions or organized in the form of hydroxyapatite crystals? (2) What is the impact of these peptides, which are very hydrophobic and can aggregate, on the structure and dynamics of the cellular plasma membranes exposed to them?
These interactions could indeed promote the deposition of crystalline elements and/or modify the dynamics of membranes and thus their behavior, during age-related diseases where the matrix is profoundly remodeled.
This work will be carried out by both numerical simulations of molecular dynamics and experimental biophysical methods (circular dichroism and/or Raman spectroscopies, NMR, calorimetry). The experimental data will be used to constrain or validate the corresponding numerical simulations. NMR and calorimetry experiments will be performed in collaboration with colleagues from Potenza (Italy) and Toulouse, respectively.
The data collected should help answer the questions posed and clarify the role played by elastin peptides in normal and pathological aging.
Supervisor : Pr. Debelle Laurent
Co-supervisor : Belloy Nicolas, ingénieur de recherche
Contact details of the project leader : 03 26 91 32 05, laurent.debelle@univ-reims.fr