How fatty tags help nerve cells send signals along axons
Regulation of Axonal Signaling by Palmitoylation
This project looks at whether attaching a small fat tag to nerve proteins helps signals travel along nerve fibers in people with nerve injury or degenerative nerve diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160759 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how a chemical tag called palmitate (a small fat) changes the way proteins move and carry signals along long nerve fibers called axons. They will focus on specific proteins that control stress and survival signals in nerves (including JNK3, DLK, and Rap2) and test how palmitoylation affects axon breakdown after injury. Experiments will use laboratory cell models and animal models to watch protein movement on axonal vesicles and to see if changing palmitoylation speeds or slows degeneration. The team will also look for enzymes that add or remove the fat tag as possible points to stop axon loss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with nerve injuries or diseases that cause axon breakdown—such as some peripheral neuropathies or neurodegenerative conditions—are the types of patients who could eventually benefit from this line of research.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate clinical treatment or those with conditions that do not involve axon damage are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new molecular targets to protect axons and slow nerve degeneration in injury and degenerative neurologic diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory work from this group showed palmitoylation is important for DLK signaling and initial results suggest palmitoylation can control axon-related signaling, but translating these findings into human therapies remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Temple Univ of the Commonwealth — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomas, Gareth — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Thomas, Gareth
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.