How an amoeba prevents harmful protein clumps
Investigation into protein quality control pathways in Dictyostelium discoideum
This project looks at how a kind of amoeba keeps proteins from clumping, with the goal of finding ideas that could help people with diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319014 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are studying Dictyostelium, an amoeba that naturally resists protein aggregation, to learn how it avoids harmful clumps. They will use genetic, biochemical, and cell-based experiments to identify proteins and pathways that maintain protein health. Once protective factors are identified, the team will test whether those mechanisms work in human cells or disease models. The long-term aim is to turn promising findings into strategies that could be tested in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with conditions caused by protein aggregation—such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, or related protein-misfolding disorders—would be the likely future candidates for therapies that come from this research.
Not a fit: Patients with illnesses unrelated to protein misfolding or those seeking immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to benefit directly from this laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new ways to prevent or reduce protein clumps that drive many neurodegenerative diseases and some cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Similar basic-science studies in other model organisms have uncovered protective proteostasis mechanisms, but translating those discoveries into human treatments is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scaglione, Kenneth Matthew — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Scaglione, Kenneth Matthew
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.