Finding and profiling human rhomboid enzymes to guide new inhibitor development
Activity-based protein profiling of the human rhomboid proteases for inhibitor discovery and enzyme characterization
Researchers are using chemical probes to find active rhomboid enzymes in human cells and look for molecules that can block them, with relevance to cancer and neurodegenerative disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oberlin College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Oberlin, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11220460 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses activity-based chemical probes that bind to active rhomboid proteases so researchers can see which enzymes are functioning in human cells and tissues. Researchers will map where and when these enzymes are active, characterize their roles in cellular processes like apoptosis, and search for small molecules that inhibit their activity. The work will be done in lab-grown human cells and may include animal models or human tissue samples to link enzyme activity to disease. The goal is to create tools and early inhibitor leads that could guide future drug development for cancers and neurodegenerative disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with certain cancers or neurodegenerative conditions might eventually benefit and could be candidates for future related studies or could contribute tissue or blood samples to this type of research.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new drug targets and early inhibitor compounds that might lead to therapies for some cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Activity-based protein profiling has successfully characterized many serine hydrolases and aided inhibitor discovery, but applying it to human rhomboid proteases is relatively new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Oberlin, United States
- Oberlin College — Oberlin, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parsons, William Hazen — Oberlin College
- Study coordinator: Parsons, William Hazen
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.