How cells detect amino acids through the GATOR complex
Mechanisms of amino-acid sensing by the GATOR complex
This project studies how cells use the GATOR complex to sense key amino acids (leucine, arginine, methionine) and decide when to grow, which is important in cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176699 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are mapping how a large protein machine called GATOR receives nutrient signals and tells the central growth controller mTORC1 what to do. They will focus on the signals from three amino acids that strongly influence cell growth. The team will combine experiments in cells with biochemical and structural work on the GATOR proteins to see how the pieces interact. Understanding these molecular steps helps explain how cells switch between growth and maintenance under different nutrient conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients, but people with cancers involving mTOR pathway changes might be candidates for future clinical trials based on these findings.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions that do not involve mTOR or amino-acid–sensing pathways are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal new targets to control mTOR-driven cell growth and eventually inform therapies for cancers with dysregulated nutrient signaling.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has established mTORC1's central role and identified some amino-acid sensors, but the precise molecular chain through the GATOR complex remains incompletely understood, so this work builds on prior progress while addressing novel questions.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rogala, Kacper — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Rogala, Kacper
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.