How flexible, shapeshifting proteins help move and organize cell membranes
Structure and Function of Protein Disorder in Membrane Trafficking and Organization
Researchers are looking at how flexible proteins that change shape help cells move and organize membranes, which could help people with nerve and brain disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11090834 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This laboratory project studies intrinsically disordered proteins—proteins that do not keep a fixed shape but still carry out important jobs in cells. The team uses proteins such as alpha-synuclein, certain receptors, and synaptic proteins, and examines them with purified proteins, artificial membranes, biophysical assays, and advanced imaging to see how they bind and change shape. Researchers will look at when parts of these proteins form membrane-binding helices versus when they remain disordered while attached to membranes, and what controls those behaviors. The goal is to explain basic membrane-trafficking processes in nerve cells that could inform future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research does not enroll patients but is most relevant to people with Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative or membrane-related disorders.
Not a fit: People with health issues unrelated to nerve cells, membrane trafficking, or protein-misfolding biology are unlikely to see direct benefit from this lab-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal mechanisms behind protein malfunctions in conditions like Parkinson's disease and suggest new targets for treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory studies have shown that alpha-synuclein and other disordered proteins interact with membranes, so this project builds on established findings while addressing remaining unknown mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Eliezer, David — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Eliezer, 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.