How cells use ubiquitin and FBXL5 to control iron levels
Understanding Ubiquitin-dependent Regulation of Iron Metabolism using Mass Spectrometry
Researchers are using advanced mass spectrometry to learn how a protein called FBXL5 and ubiquitin help cells keep iron balanced, which could inform treatments for anemia and iron-related cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11318987 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This lab-focused project studies how cells control iron by examining the E3 ubiquitin ligase FBXL5 and its protein targets. Scientists use biochemical techniques and cutting-edge proteomic mass spectrometry to find where ubiquitin tags are added and how that affects iron handling. They are also developing new mass-spectrometry methods to detect these regulatory events more precisely. Understanding these mechanisms may explain how iron misregulation contributes to anemia, certain cancers, and related conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This work does not enroll patients—it's laboratory research—though people with anemia, iron overload, or cancers linked to iron metabolism may benefit from its discoveries in the future.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or clinical care should not expect direct benefits from this grant now, and those without iron-related conditions are unlikely to be affected.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal molecular targets or biomarkers that lead to new diagnostics or therapies for anemia, iron-overload disorders, and some cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous basic research has connected FBXL5 and ubiquitin to iron regulation, but applying novel mass-spectrometry techniques to map these pathways is an evolving and relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wohlschlegel, James Akira — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Wohlschlegel, James Akira
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.