How cells clear and use stored sugar through glycophagy
Defining the mechanisms of the glycophagy shunt and its role in metabolism
Researchers are looking at how cells break down stored sugar (glycogen) via a process called glycophagy to better understand problems in heart disease, brain disorders, cancer, and glycogen storage diseases like Pompe disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143126 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will use specially engineered cells and mice to watch glycophagy — the way cells send glycogen to lysosomes to be broken down — and build new lab tools to measure that process. They will compare glycogen breakdown that happens in different cell compartments and see how it affects cell energy and metabolism. Results will help explain whether faulty glycophagy contributes to conditions such as heart disease, brain disorders, cancer, and acid maltase (Pompe) disease. This work is lab-based and focused on basic mechanisms that could guide future patient-centered research.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with glycogen storage disorders (such as Pompe disease), certain heart or brain conditions, or cancers who want to follow metabolic research or be considered for future trials could be most interested.
Not a fit: Patients looking for immediate new treatments or direct clinical care are unlikely to gain short-term benefit because the project focuses on lab research in cells and mice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for treating diseases caused by abnormal glycogen handling, potentially benefiting people with heart, brain, cancer, or glycogen storage disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Genetically modified cells and mouse models have successfully clarified other metabolic pathways, but the role of glycophagy is still understudied and this approach is relatively novel for that specific process.
Where this research is happening
Baton Rouge, United States
- Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr — Baton Rouge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Heden, Timothy D. — Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr
- Study coordinator: Heden, Timothy D.
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.