Active-site models to understand how enzymes activate alkanes in the gut
Official title: Active-site models unravel mechanism of enzymatic alkane activation
Funded at Texas State University · NIH-11396266 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are building small, detailed models of the nickel-containing active site from methanogenic Archaea found in the human gut to learn how methane-related reactions begin and proceed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Marcos, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $188,088 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM150472-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11396266 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is at the model-system level and does not require patient participation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients are unlikely to directly participate or benefit from this model-focused research.
What this research studies
This project creates and studies small molecular models that mimic the active site of methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) from gut Archaea. By comparing these models with real enzymes, scientists hope to reveal how the nickel center coordinates ligands and how it helps break and form chemical bonds with methane under anaerobic conditions. The work involves synthesizing macrocyclic nickel complexes and using spectroscopic methods to probe their structure and reactivity in different states. The aim is to illuminate the chemistry behind methane production and oxidation without needing to rely on the full, complex enzyme. Results could clarify fundamental biochemistry of gut microbes and inform future therapeutic or environmental insights related to methane processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding MCR models could advance knowledge about gut microbiome chemistry and methane biology, potentially guiding future interventions related to methane production or metabolism.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with ligand-maged nickel models has provided insights into metal-ligand chemistry relevant to biological systems, suggesting this approach is promising but still early.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas State University
San Marcos, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schilter, David — Texas State University
- Study coordinator: Schilter, David
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.