How cells sense glucose using yeast receptors

Receptor-mediated glucose sensing in yeast

NIH-funded research Columbia International University · NIH-11309760

Using yeast, researchers aim to learn how glucose-sensing receptors work to ultimately help people with diabetes and obesity.

Quick facts

Grant typeR15 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionColumbia International University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Columbia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11309760 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

As someone concerned about diabetes, it helps to know researchers are using yeast cells to watch glucose receptors in action with a fluorescent microscope. They will measure sugar uptake with a fluorescent tracer, extract receptor proteins for biochemical tests, and use qRT-PCR to read gene activity linked to the receptors Rgt2 and Snf3. The project buys key lab equipment to speed up and improve these experiments. Results may reveal signaling steps that relate to human metabolic disease.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This project is lab-based and does not enroll patients, so no one can participate directly.

Not a fit: People seeking immediate new treatments or clinical care changes are unlikely to benefit from this basic yeast research in the short term.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular steps in glucose sensing that point to new treatment targets or diagnostic ideas for diabetes.

How similar studies have performed: Yeast and molecular studies have a long history of revealing basic pathways relevant to human metabolism, though translating those findings into treatments often takes time.

Where this research is happening

Columbia, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Diabetes MellitusDiseaseDisorder
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.