Chemical tags on the gene-reading machine (RNA polymerase II)
Deciphering the phosphorylation pattern of RNA polymerase II for eukaryotic transcription
This project looks at how chemical tags on a key gene-reading enzyme could point to new treatment targets for cancers like glioblastoma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258926 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers map which parts of RNA polymerase II get phosphorylated and which enzymes add or remove those tags, using tools from structural biology, biochemistry, and mass spectrometry. They link these phosphorylation patterns to changes in gene activity by using global transcriptome analysis. The team also tests whether blocking a human phosphatase called SCP1 can slow the growth of glioblastoma cells in laboratory experiments. Results aim to show how molecular changes in the enzyme affect cancer cell behavior and identify possible points to target with drugs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with glioblastoma or those willing to donate tumor samples for research would be the most directly relevant candidates for future related studies.
Not a fit: People without cancer or with tumors that do not depend on the same molecular pathway are unlikely to get direct benefit from this research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets or strategies to slow or stop tumors such as glioblastoma.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have mapped CTD phosphorylation and shown that targeting phosphatases can affect cancer cell growth, but translating these findings into patient treatments is still early.
Where this research is happening
Austin, United States
- University of Texas at Austin — Austin, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Yan Jessie — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Yan Jessie
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.