How human cells make inositol and what happens when inositol is low
Regulation of inositol biosynthesis and consequences of inositol depletion
Researchers are looking at how human cells make and control inositol and what low inositol does, to help people with conditions like bipolar disorder, certain myopathies, and cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260141 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have bipolar disorder, Barth syndrome, or certain cancers, this work aims to understand how your cells make a molecule called inositol and what happens when its levels drop. The team is studying a regulator protein (IP6K1) that controls the ISYNA1 gene, which produces the key enzyme MIPS, and how binding to a lipid (phosphatidic acid) moves IP6K1 into the nucleus to turn ISYNA1 off. They use human cell lines, including cells engineered to lack ISYNA1, plus molecular and cell biology techniques to track gene activity, protein location, and cellular effects of inositol depletion. The goal is to clarify links between inositol changes and mood, muscle, and cancer biology, pointing toward possible targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant is laboratory research using human cell lines and does not enroll patients or require patient participation.
Not a fit: People looking for immediate treatment options or clinical care are unlikely to benefit directly from these basic laboratory experiments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets to restore healthy inositol levels or explain how existing mood-stabilizing drugs work, guiding development of new therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and clinical observations link inositol metabolism to mood disorders and cancer, but targeting IP6K1 regulation of ISYNA1 is a relatively new, preclinical direction.
Where this research is happening
Detroit, United States
- Wayne State University — Detroit, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Greenberg, Miriam L — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Greenberg, Miriam L
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.