How electrical charges travel through proteins
Mapping of Electron Tunneling Pathways in Proteins
This project looks at how electrical charges move along proteins to better understand processes like cell death and DNA repair that affect many diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11195019 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From my perspective as a patient, the team maps the routes that electrons take through and between proteins using lab experiments and theoretical models. They study both short-range transfers inside cells and surprising long-range transfers outside cells, using purified proteins and microbial examples. The researchers combine physical measurements with computer modeling to trace cofactor chains and molecular pathways that carry charge. By connecting these basic mechanisms to things like apoptosis, DNA repair, and oxidative stress, they aim to explain how broken charge flow can lead to disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people willing to donate blood, tissue, or other biosamples related to conditions involving oxidative stress, DNA repair defects, or certain infections, although much of the work is laboratory-based.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatments or those without conditions linked to electron-transfer problems are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new ways to prevent or repair cellular damage in diseases caused by faulty charge transfer.
How similar studies have performed: Related studies have clarified short-range electron transfer in proteins, but mapping very long-range and extracellular charge pathways is relatively new and still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Beratan, David — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Beratan, David
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.