How cell motor proteins move cargo along microtubule tracks
Kinesin Motors and Microtubule-based Trafficking
This work looks at how tiny motor proteins and their cellular tracks move material inside cells, with relevance for cancers and neurodegenerative diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11321700 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study kinesin motor proteins and the microtubule ‘tracks’ they travel on to learn how they generate force and carry cargo. They will combine biochemical and biophysical experiments on purified proteins with cellular assays in mammalian cells to see how motors move, how chemical tags on microtubules guide them, and what happens to motors after a trip. The team will also examine how motor stepping affects the structure of the microtubule itself. Results will connect detailed molecular behavior to cell-level problems seen in disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers or degenerative neurologic disorders linked to defects in intracellular transport would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to microtubule or kinesin dysfunction are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could identify molecular steps or targets that new therapies might correct to improve transport-related problems in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies have successfully detailed motor mechanics and microtubule biology, but turning those findings into clinical therapies remains early and unproven.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verhey, Kristen J. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Verhey, Kristen J.
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.