How cells control fat storage and the proteins on fat droplets
Lipid droplet regulation and proteome dynamics
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY · NIH-11141706
This project looks at how cells manage fat droplets and their proteins to help people with fatty liver, diabetes, obesity, and related conditions.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BERKELEY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11141706 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers use human cells and gene-editing tools to turn off genes and watch how fat droplets form and change under different metabolic conditions. They tag neutral lipids with a fluorescent reporter so fat droplets can be seen and measured, and run CRISPR screens to find genes that control droplet size and composition. The team is also focused on PLIN2, a key protein on many lipid droplets, to learn how it affects droplet stability and turnover. Findings will map the proteins on droplets and reveal mechanisms that could be targeted by future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity, type 2 diabetes, or related metabolic conditions would be most likely to benefit from advances stemming from this research.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to fat metabolism or lipid storage (for example many primary neurological or orthopedic disorders) are unlikely to see direct benefits from this specific work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify targets that lead to new treatments or prevention strategies for fatty liver disease, diabetes, obesity, and other disorders tied to abnormal fat storage.
How similar studies have performed: Laboratory studies have previously mapped lipid droplet proteins and used CRISPR in cells to find regulators, but translating these basic findings into clinical treatments is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
BERKELEY, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY — BERKELEY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: OLZMANN, JAMES A — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY
- Study coordinator: OLZMANN, JAMES A
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.
Conditions: Bacterial Infections