Functional lipids shape memory of membrane proteins like Kir channels and GPCRs
Official title: The Functional Interplay of Lipid Membrane Components: Activation, Inhibition, and Raft Formation
Funded at Trustees of Indiana University · NIH-11519085 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project will study how cholesterol and other lipids in cell membranes affect how membrane proteins work, using advanced NMR and computer simulations, with results that could inform understanding of how these proteins contribute to disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Trustees of Indiana University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bloomington, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2017 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $424,005 |
| NIH project number | 7R35GM124979-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11519085 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include individuals with diseases linked to Kir channels or GPCR signaling abnormalities, such as long-QT syndrome, epilepsy, or Alzheimer’s-related dementia, who may benefit from future translational insights.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without conditions related to membrane protein regulation may not directly benefit from these basic mechanistic findings.
What this research studies
This project will investigate how membrane lipids regulate important proteins such as Kir channels and GPCRs, using solid-state NMR in membranes that mimic their natural environment. Researchers will combine NMR data with functional assays, fluorescence methods, and molecular dynamics simulations conducted under identical conditions. The goal is to map how active and inactive lipid states relate to protein structure and dynamics, potentially shedding light on disease mechanisms linked to these channels and receptors. The work focuses on human-relevant systems and aims to connect lipid interactions with channel gating and signaling processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could improve our understanding of diseases connected to membrane protein function and inform the design of therapies targeting lipid-protein interactions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that lipid-protein interactions can modulate channel activity and receptor signaling, supporting the potential value of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Trustees of Indiana University
Bloomington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wylie, Benjamin James — Trustees of Indiana University
- Study coordinator: Wylie, Benjamin James
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.