Better tools to map where proteins sit inside cancer cells
Hybrid Biological-Abiotic Proximity Labeling Catalysts for Enhancing Spatially-Resolved Proteomics
Researchers are building new hybrid chemical-and-biological tags to mark proteins inside cancer cells so we can see exactly where proteins are located.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11361109 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project develops three types of hybrid catalysts that combine engineered enzymes with synthetic chemistry to tag nearby proteins inside cells. The team uses directed evolution to make enzymes that create short-lived reactive species, and pairs those enzymes with chemical tags to reach different amino acids and tighter spatial control. Tagged proteins are pulled out and identified by mass spectrometry to produce detailed maps of which proteins sit in which parts of a cell. Over time these maps could help researchers find better drug targets or biomarkers in cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancer who are willing to donate tumor tissue or other biological samples for laboratory analysis would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People without cancer or those unwilling/unable to provide tissue samples are unlikely to directly benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal where disease-related proteins act inside cancer cells, pointing to new drug targets or diagnostic markers.
How similar studies have performed: Existing proximity-labeling methods like APEX and BioID have been widely used, but these hybrid biological–abiotic catalysts are a newer approach aiming for finer chemical diversity and tighter spatial control.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Martell, Jeffrey Daniel — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Martell, Jeffrey Daniel
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 below.