How five-carbon (C5) metabolism affects human health
Official title: Elucidation of the chemical and biological roles of five-carbon metabolism
Funded at University of Tennessee Knoxville · NIH-11249659 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how tiny C5 molecules made by the isoprenoid pathway influence cell health and conditions like dementia, adrenal disorders, and heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Knoxville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Knoxville, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $370,187 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM157211-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11249659 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with disorders connected to isoprenoid biology—for example certain forms of dementia (including Alzheimer-type dementia), adrenal disorders like Addison-related syndromes, or metabolic/mitochondrial conditions—would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to isoprenoid pathways (for example isolated orthopedic injuries or acute infections) are unlikely to see direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will create chemical probes and genetic tools to track and manipulate the two central C5 metabolites (IPP and DMAPP) inside human cells and laboratory models. They will study how changes in these molecules affect cholesterol, glycoprotein production, steroid hormone signaling, and mitochondrial function. The team will focus on the enzyme IPPI that helps balance IPP and DMAPP and test how altering it changes cell biology linked to diseases. Results will be used to point to new disease mechanisms and possible targets for future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new biological targets and diagnostic clues that lead to treatments for conditions tied to isoprenoid metabolism.
How similar studies have gone: This is a relatively novel approach because few chemical probes exist for IPP and DMAPP, although related isoprenoid research (such as work on cholesterol synthesis) has successfully produced widely used drugs like statins.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Knoxville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baccile, Joshua a — University of Tennessee Knoxville
- Study coordinator: Baccile, Joshua a
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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.