Mitocheck
Encyclopedia
MitoCheck was an integrated research project which brought together several European research groups to study systematically the regulation of mitosis
in human cells.
It was funded within the Sixth Framework programme
of the European Union
for 5 years from 1 April 2004 and co-ordinated by Jan-Michael Peters (Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
, Vienna). The full list of participants included groups from Austria, Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom.
The project tested all human gene
s for involvement in mitosis by RNA interference
, then characterized subcellular localization and involvement in protein complexes of the proteins encoded by many of the identified mitotic genes. Other aspects of the project have looked at mitotic protein phosphorylation
and translational
opportunities for human health. Mitocheck has made all of its data publicly available on its web site.
Mitosis
Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in its cell nucleus into two identical sets, in two separate nuclei. It is generally followed immediately by cytokinesis, which divides the nuclei, cytoplasm, organelles and cell membrane into two cells containing roughly...
in human cells.
It was funded within the Sixth Framework programme
Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development
The Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development, also called Framework Programmes or abbreviated FP1 through FP8, are funding programmes created by the European Union in order to support and encourage research in the European Research Area...
of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
for 5 years from 1 April 2004 and co-ordinated by Jan-Michael Peters (Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
The Research Institute of Molecular Pathology is a basic biomedical research center sponsored largely by the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, and located in the Campus Vienna Biocenter ....
, Vienna). The full list of participants included groups from Austria, Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom.
The project tested all human gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
s for involvement in mitosis by RNA interference
RNA interference
RNA interference is a process within living cells that moderates the activity of their genes. Historically, it was known by other names, including co-suppression, post transcriptional gene silencing , and quelling. Only after these apparently unrelated processes were fully understood did it become...
, then characterized subcellular localization and involvement in protein complexes of the proteins encoded by many of the identified mitotic genes. Other aspects of the project have looked at mitotic protein phosphorylation
Phosphorylation
Phosphorylation is the addition of a phosphate group to a protein or other organic molecule. Phosphorylation activates or deactivates many protein enzymes....
and translational
Translational medicine
Translational medicine is a medical practice based on interventional epidemiology. It is regarded by its proponents as a natural progression from Evidence-Based Medicine. It integrates research from the basic sciences, social sciences and political sciences with the aim of optimising patient care...
opportunities for human health. Mitocheck has made all of its data publicly available on its web site.