How formaldehyde changes DNA-packaging proteins and may lead to cancer
Chromatin assembly and formaldehyde toxicity
This work looks at how formaldehyde exposure alters the proteins that package our DNA and how those changes could lead to cancer in people exposed to the chemical.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251968 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers will examine how formaldehyde binds to histone proteins and blocks normal chemical tags called acetylations that help move histones into the nucleus and assemble chromatin. They will use laboratory cell and tissue experiments, biochemical assays, and fractionation methods to compare treated and untreated samples and to map specific histone changes. The team will follow up on preliminary findings showing reduced histone acetylation after formaldehyde exposure and test how that affects chromatin structure and cell behavior linked to cancer. Findings will help explain whether epigenetic changes, not just DNA damage, contribute to cancer risk from formaldehyde.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a history of occupational or high environmental exposure to formaldehyde or those willing to donate tissue or biospecimens for lab study would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatments or those without any formaldehyde exposure are unlikely to receive direct benefits from this basic laboratory-focused grant.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal a new mechanism by which formaldehyde increases cancer risk and point toward ways to detect or reduce harm from exposure.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown formaldehyde can form adducts on histones, but linking those changes to disrupted chromatin assembly and cancer is a newer and still-developing area.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jin, Chunyuan — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Jin, Chunyuan
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.