How cells tag and clear damaged proteins and new tools to watch lysosomes
Deciphering Novel Principles of Rapid Proteostatic Control and Innovating Spatiotemporal Lysosomal Tools
This work looks for how cells mark broken or unneeded proteins for disposal and builds new tools to watch the cell's recycling centers (lysosomes) so future treatments for diseases with protein buildup can be developed.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California-Irvine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Irvine, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195693 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers are figuring out how cells label proteins so they get sent to lysosomes for breakdown and how that process changes when cells need to remodel proteins quickly. The team will identify which proteins and short peptide motifs send cargo to lysosomes, study how arginine methylation acts as a tagging signal, and define the enzymes involved. They will use cell-based experiments, biochemical analysis, and new imaging probes to map when and where lysosomal delivery occurs. The work also aims to create spatiotemporal tools to visualize lysosome activity inside cells.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People affected by conditions tied to protein aggregation or abnormal protein clearance (for example some neurodegenerative disorders) are the kinds of patients who might benefit from downstream applications of this research, though the grant itself does not enroll patients.
Not a fit: Patients seeking an immediate treatment or clinical trial are unlikely to receive direct benefit because this is laboratory-focused basic science rather than a patient-facing clinical study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to new drug targets and imaging methods that eventually help diagnose or treat diseases driven by harmful protein buildup.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked protein methylation and proteasome/lysosome pathways to protein clearance, but applying methyl-driven lysosomal delivery as a broad rule and building new live-cell lysosome tools is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Irvine, United States
- University of California-Irvine — Irvine, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Albrecht, Lauren Veronica — University of California-Irvine
- Study coordinator: Albrecht, Lauren Veronica
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.