How copper movement in the gut affects dietary fat absorption
Molecular Mechanisms of Active Copper Transport
['FUNDING_R01'] · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · NIH-11293437
Researchers are looking at how copper transport in the small intestine changes the way dietary fat is packaged and moved, with implications for people who have Wilson disease or other gut absorption problems.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11293437 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project studies how two copper transport proteins (ATP7A and SLC31A1) and the energy-sensing protein ANKRD9 help enter cells package and send out fat-carrying particles called chylomicrons. The team will track where these proteins sit inside intestinal cells and how that affects ApoB and lipid content in chylomicrons using molecular and cellular experiments and animal models. They will define ANKRD9 protein complexes and the parts that sense ATP to understand how cellular energy links copper handling to fat transport. The researchers will compare findings to changes seen in human disease (such as Wilson disease) to learn how these mechanisms go wrong in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people with Wilson disease or unexplained intestinal fat-malabsorption or related disorders affecting nutrient absorption.
Not a fit: People with health problems unrelated to intestinal copper transport or fat absorption, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment rather than research participation, are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to diagnose or treat disorders where copper handling disrupts fat absorption, including targets for future therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work from this group and others has shown a link between copper levels and fat handling in animal models, but the detailed molecular mechanisms and human relevance are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES
- JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY — BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LUTSENKO, SVETLANA — JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LUTSENKO, SVETLANA
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.