How cells sense cholesterol to control its production
Structural mechanisms of Scap/SREBP signaling in membrane homeostasis
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11327309
The team is trying to find how two cell proteins detect cholesterol so future treatments can better manage high cholesterol and related conditions.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DALLAS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11327309 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project focuses on two membrane proteins, Scap and Insig, that control SREBP, a master switch for cholesterol production in cells. Researchers will use structural biology and biophysical methods to determine the atomic shapes of these proteins and how cholesterol binding changes them. They previously studied chicken versions and now aim to capture cholesterol-bound states to explain how the switch turns on or off. The work combines imaging of protein structures with biochemical tests and engineered mutations to map the molecular steps that regulate cholesterol synthesis.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people affected by high cholesterol, familial hypercholesterolemia, or related metabolic and cardiovascular conditions who might benefit from future therapies informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to cholesterol metabolism or those seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets for drugs that more precisely control harmful high cholesterol.
How similar studies have performed: Previous structural studies using chicken proteins revealed major conformational changes in Scap when bound to Insig, but structures showing Scap/Insig bound to cholesterol itself are still novel and uncharacterized.
Where this research is happening
DALLAS, UNITED STATES
- UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER — DALLAS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ROSENBAUM, DANIEL — UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: ROSENBAUM, DANIEL
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.