How kidney tubule cells move important proteins and salts
Official title: Uncovering cargo and cell type specific molecular mechanisms of renal tubular epithelial transport
Funded at Sanford Research/usd · NIH-11336874 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to find how motor proteins called MYH9 and MYH10 in adult kidney tubule cells control movement of proteins and salt transport linked to some forms of kidney disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Research/usd NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sioux Falls, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $364,213 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK131020-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11336874 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with MYH9-related disorders or with unexplained tubular kidney disease are the most likely patient groups to benefit from these findings or future clinical follow-ups.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose kidney problems are solely due to primary glomerular diseases without tubular transport defects may not receive direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers will use mice and lab-grown kidney tubule cells where the Myh9 and Myh10 genes are turned off to mimic genetic changes tied to kidney disease. They will track how these changes disrupt the handling of the protein uromodulin and the salt transporter NKCC2, and measure resulting ER stress and unfolded protein response pathways. The team uses a new long-term cultured thick ascending limb (TAL) cell system and cell-type specific knockout mice to pinpoint which kidney cell types drive transport failure and tubular injury. Results are intended to map the molecular steps that lead to progressive tubular kidney disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify molecular targets to prevent or treat tubular transport defects and slow progression of certain genetic and tubular kidney diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous mouse and cell studies have linked MYH9 mutations to kidney disease, but this focused cell-type and cargo-transport analysis is a novel and more detailed approach.
Where this research is happening
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Sanford Research/usd
Sioux Falls, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chandrasekar, Indra — Sanford Research/usd
- Study coordinator: Chandrasekar, Indra
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.