How a calcium‑sensing enzyme shapes communication in heart, brain, and egg cells
Unraveling the molecular events driven by CaMKII in Ca2+-coupled cells
This work looks at how different versions of the calcium‑sensitive enzyme CaMKII act in heart cells, brain cells, and egg cells to help people with heart rhythm, memory, or fertility concerns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176209 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will catalogue the many CaMKII RNA and protein variants made in different cell types and map how they are chemically modified and assembled. They will use molecular, biochemical, and structural methods to see how these variants respond to different calcium signaling patterns in heart muscle, neurons, and oocytes. The team will compare cell‑specific CaMKII forms to link particular variants and shapes to distinct cell behaviors. Findings aim to explain how one enzyme can support very different roles across tissues and time scales.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cardiac rhythm disorders, certain memory problems, or unexplained infertility would be the types most likely to benefit from future studies built on this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to calcium signaling or CaMKII biology (for example many cancers or musculoskeletal injuries) are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific CaMKII variants as targets for new treatments for certain heart rhythm problems, memory disorders, or fertility issues.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked CaMKII to heart and brain function, but the large‑scale mapping of hundreds of spliced and modified CaMKII proteoforms and their structural consequences is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Hadley, United States
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stratton, Margaret M — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Stratton, Margaret M
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.