How heart muscle cell signaling changes during heart enlargement (cardiac hypertrophy)
Defining the cardiomyocyte microdomain signaling landscape in cardiac hypertrophy
This project explores how fatty tags on proteins inside adult heart muscle cells change during heart enlargement and how that may drive harmful signals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11292394 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, scientists will look inside heart muscle cells to map tiny signaling zones where proteins gather and send harmful messages during heart enlargement. They focus on a reversible fatty tag called palmitoylation and on a signaling switch protein called Rac1, using lab experiments, advanced imaging, and molecular tests in cells and animal models and with relevant human tissue when available. The team will test how changing palmitoylation alters localized signaling, oxidative stress, and rhythm problems linked to cardiac hypertrophy. Their goal is to identify specific molecular steps that could become targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, or related arrhythmias would be the types of patients most likely to benefit from future therapies that come from this research.
Not a fit: People without heart muscle disease or those seeking immediate treatment are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic lab-focused work right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new molecular targets to prevent or reduce harmful heart enlargement and related rhythm problems.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies support a role for palmitoylation in cardiomyocyte signaling and for Rac1 in promoting hypertrophy and oxidative stress, but translating these findings into treatments is still early.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brody, Matthew Jacob — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Brody, Matthew Jacob
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.