How cells protect themselves when proteins go wrong
Stress Response Pathways Regulating Protein Homeostasis
Researchers are learning how cells detect and handle faulty protein production and stress to help people with aging-related and other diseases.
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-11322055 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how cells detect and respond when protein production goes wrong, focusing on both molecular quality-control systems and physical changes inside cells. The team will study ribosome-associated quality control and a newly described process called CAT tails, where ribosomes add tails to defective proteins without normal instructions. They will also examine viscoadaptation, how cells change the movement of molecules under stress, using molecular biology and biophysical experiments in cell models. These lab-based experiments aim to explain why these protective mechanisms fail in aging and disease and to point toward future treatment ideas.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with aging-related disorders or diseases linked to protein misfolding (for example certain neurodegenerative conditions) would be the most relevant future candidates to benefit from this work.
Not a fit: Healthy people and patients whose conditions are unrelated to protein homeostasis are unlikely to get direct benefits from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal new ways to protect cells from damaged proteins and point to therapies for aging-related conditions and protein-folding diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Related basic research has uncovered stress-response pathways and promising targets before, but the specific CAT tail and viscoadaptation mechanisms are newer and still at an early, exploratory stage.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brandman, Onn — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Brandman, Onn
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.