Cell regions and fat droplets that control lipid balance
Roles of endoplasmic reticulum subdomains in regulating intracellular lipid distribution and organelle biogenesis
This work looks at how parts of cells that make and store fats control lipid balance, which matters for people with diabetes or heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11311262 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use lab-grown cells and a new in vitro assay to watch how lipid droplets form from the endoplasmic reticulum and how ER contact sites organize lipids. They will test how proteins involved in droplet formation work and how disease-linked mutations change those functions. Experiments will combine cell biology, biochemistry, and imaging to map where lipids go inside cells and how organelles are built. Findings could point to molecular steps that go wrong in metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with adult-onset (type 2) diabetes, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or inherited lipid disorders would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment should not expect direct benefit because this is laboratory-based basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new molecular targets to treat or prevent lipid-related problems in diabetes and heart disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous basic research on ER–lipid droplet biology has advanced understanding of lipid metabolism and suggested targets, but applying this novel in vitro assay to ER subdomains is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Prinz, William — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Prinz, William
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.