How cells retrieve important membrane proteins and how coronaviruses can affect that recycling
Biophysical, Structural, and Cellular Dissection of COPI-Dependent Retrograde Trafficking Using a Coronavirus Toolkit
This work looks at how cells pull certain membrane proteins back into the cell and how pieces of coronaviruses can interfere, which could affect handling of drugs like acetaminophen.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11173853 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study the cell's COPI 'recycling' machinery that returns specific membrane proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum. They will use purified proteins, high-resolution structural methods, and cell-based lab experiments that include coronavirus protein components to see how binding and release occur. The team will measure effects on cellular stress and on enzymes that modify drugs such as acetaminophen. Results aim to explain how viral parts or COPI problems change protein trafficking in human cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection or those with liver conditions that change acetaminophen metabolism would be most relevant for follow-up or translational studies.
Not a fit: Patients looking for immediate treatments or those without viral infection or drug-metabolism issues are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify mechanisms that lead to better ways to prevent or treat disruptions in protein trafficking and could improve understanding of how viruses alter drug handling.
How similar studies have performed: Previous structural and cell studies have examined COPI and viral protein interactions, but applying a coronavirus-focused toolkit to dissect dibasic motif binding and release at this level is a novel, more detailed approach.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hasan, Syed Saif — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Hasan, Syed Saif
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.