How gene-control proteins find the right spots on DNA
Resolving transcription factor target search mechanisms
Researchers are using a new ultra-fast microscope to watch proteins that turn genes on and off in human and mouse cells to learn how they find the correct DNA targets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168799 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your point of view, the team will track individual gene-regulating proteins inside living human and mouse cells using a new microscopy method that pinpoints movements at nanometer and microsecond scales. They will build new computer tools to handle and analyze the fast, high-resolution tracking data. After validating the method, they will trace how these proteins move in three dimensions, interact with DNA, and distinguish correct binding sites from many decoys. The goal is to reveal basic search behaviors that underlie how cells control genes, with relevance to cell identity and disease processes like cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers or other conditions linked to gene-expression errors, or those willing to donate tissue samples for laboratory studies, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to gene regulation (for example, purely structural injuries) are unlikely to see direct benefits from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how misregulation of gene-control proteins arises and point to new ways to correct gene expression in diseases such as cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Single-molecule tracking has provided biological insights before, but this ultra-high spatial and temporal live-cell tracking approach is novel and largely untested at this resolution.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hansen, Anders Sejr — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Hansen, Anders Sejr
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.