How manganese and iron team up in bacterial proteins
Metallobiochemistry of Mn/Fe protein cofactors
Researchers are exploring how pairs of manganese and iron inside bacterial proteins carry out chemical reactions, which could point to new ways to weaken germs that cause infections like Chlamydia and tuberculosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260001 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a bacterial infection, this lab work looks at tiny metal centers inside bacterial proteins to understand how they help microbes survive. Scientists at UCLA will use and develop advanced spectroscopy tools to map the metal's electronic structure, shape, and reactivity, and they will compare Mn/Fe pairs to traditional iron-only sites. They will study proteins from various bacteria, including strains related to human disease, and test mutated protein variants to see what changes the chemistry. Although it is basic laboratory research rather than a clinical trial, the findings could point to new bacterial targets for future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with infections caused by bacteria such as Chlamydia or Mycobacteria would be the eventual groups most likely to benefit from therapies that might arise from this work.
Not a fit: People with non-bacterial illnesses or infections caused by unrelated pathogens are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could reveal vulnerable metal cofactors in bacteria that become targets for new antimicrobial drugs.
How similar studies have performed: While spectroscopy has clarified many iron-based enzyme mechanisms, Mn/Fe heterobimetallic protein systems are a newer, less-tested area and remain relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shafaat, Hannah S — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Shafaat, Hannah S
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.