Cytoskeleton and cell suicide: how actin helps control apoptosis
Official title: Cytoskeletal compartmentalization of apoptotic signaling
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-11377641 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in human cells will explore how actin filaments and related proteins influence programmed cell death after DNA damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $322,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM155651-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377641 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with conditions related to apoptotic pathway dysfunction or cancers with altered actin dynamics may benefit from future translational applications.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy individuals without targeted apoptotic pathway issues are unlikely to directly benefit from this basic science study.
What this research studies
Researchers are examining how the actin cytoskeleton interacts with key apoptosis proteins to control cell death in response to stress. They focus on WASP-family nucleation factors like WASP, JMY, and WHAMM that shape actin filaments and how this affects apoptosome formation and caspase activation. The work aims to map the molecular connections between actin dynamics and the signaling steps that decide whether a cell survives or dies. By understanding these links, we may learn how cells decide to undergo programmed death when DNA is damaged. This could inform strategies to protect healthy cells or selectively target diseased cells in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Improved insights into how cells decide to die could lead to new approaches for treating diseases where apoptosis goes awry, such as cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that actin dynamics influence apoptotic signaling, supporting potential relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Campellone, Kenneth G — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Campellone, Kenneth G
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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.