How cellular signaling and gene activity change with stress and aging
Dynamical signaling and gene regulation in stress and aging
This work looks at how a key cell signaling system called PKA changes during stress and aging to help people with age-related conditions like heart disease, cancer, and neurodegeneration.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11131631 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are using baker's yeast as a simple model to learn how the PKA signaling system controls gene activity during stress and as cells age. They combine time-resolved experiments that measure signaling dynamics with computer modeling to map the molecular circuits that drive different aging outcomes. The team is focusing on interactions between PKA and the heme-activated protein (HAP) complex that may cause some cells' signaling to decline as they age. Results in yeast are intended to reveal basic mechanisms that could guide future studies in human tissues and disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This particular grant does not enroll patients directly, but future human studies based on these findings would likely focus on people with age-related conditions such as heart disease, cancer, or neurodegenerative disorders.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment or those with conditions unrelated to aging or PKA-related pathways are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular pathways behind cellular aging and point to new targets for therapies to slow or prevent age-related diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies using yeast models and computational approaches have produced useful insights into signaling and aging, though translating those findings into human therapies remains a long-term challenge.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hao, Nan — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Hao, Nan
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.