How egg cells control a key protein switch during egg division

Novel approaches for the discovery of dephosphorylation control in oocyte meiosis

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI · NIH-11167815

This work aims to discover whether the enzyme PP1 and its partner proteins help egg cells complete division properly, which could explain some causes of female infertility.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (nih funded)
Locations1 site (HATTIESBURG, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11167815 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

The research looks at a protein called PP1 that helps remove phosphate tags from other proteins during the final stages of egg cell division. Lab experiments will use mammalian oocytes and targeted tools that block PP1 interactions to see which partner proteins direct its action. The team will map PP1 partner proteins and test how changing those partnerships affects an egg's ability to finish meiosis. Results will help explain why some eggs fail to divide correctly and lead to infertility.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Women with unexplained infertility suspected to involve egg division problems or those willing to donate oocytes for research would be the most directly relevant participants or contributors.

Not a fit: People whose infertility is due to non-egg factors (for example, male-factor infertility, blocked fallopian tubes, or uterine issues) are unlikely to benefit directly from these findings.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal causes of some forms of female infertility and point to new targets for future fertility treatments or diagnostics.

How similar studies have performed: PP1 is known to regulate cell division in other cell types and is linked to disease when its partnerships change, but applying a PIP-based approach to dissect PP1 roles in mammalian oocytes is a novel direction with promising preliminary data.

Where this research is happening

HATTIESBURG, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Cardiac Diseases, Cardiac Disorders

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.