How maturing red blood cells clear out unwanted proteins
Mechanisms of proteome curation during red blood cell differentiation
This research looks at how developing red blood cells remove unneeded proteins so doctors can better understand and eventually help people with some types of anemia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11245771 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will focus on UBE2O, an enzyme that helps tag and clear proteins as red blood cells mature. They will recreate the steps by which UBE2O marks proteins for destruction and how the proteasome and other clearance pathways remove ribosomes and orphan proteins. Experiments will use biochemical reconstitution and cell-based models to follow protein tagging and degradation during red blood cell differentiation. The goal is to map the key steps that ensure red blood cells end up packed with hemoglobin and free of unnecessary machinery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with inherited or unexplained anemias who are interested in research on the basic causes of red blood cell defects would be the most relevant group to follow this work.
Not a fit: Patients who need immediate treatment or whose low blood counts are due to bleeding, iron deficiency, or unrelated conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new ways to diagnose or treat certain anemias caused by problems in red blood cell maturation.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have linked UBE2O to removal of unassembled proteins during red blood cell maturation, but the detailed molecular steps and therapeutic implications remain new.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shao, Sichen — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Shao, Sichen
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.