How metal ions change viral and cellular enzymes
Official title: From humans and eukaryotes to viruses and pathogens; how transition metals shape catalysis and allostery
Funded at Brandeis University · NIH-11326726 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will look at how metal ions inside proteins change the behavior of viral enzymes and the cell enzymes that control DNA building blocks, with the aim of helping people affected by viral infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brandeis University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waltham, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $432,664 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM156452-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326726 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People affected by viral infections such as COVID-19, hepatitis E, or enterovirus illnesses could be the eventual beneficiaries of therapies informed by this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to viral infections or the specific enzymes studied are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
If you or someone you care about has had a viral infection, this project looks at how tiny metal atoms inside proteins change how viruses and your cells behave. The team will study viral proteases from pathogens like SARS-CoV-2, hepatitis E, and enteroviruses and enzymes in human cells that control dNTP levels to see where metals bind and how they affect function. They will use laboratory biochemical tests, structural imaging, and cell-based experiments to map metal sites and measure changes in activity. Findings could point to new vulnerabilities in viruses or ways to protect cellular defenses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets or approaches for antiviral drugs that better block viral enzymes or protect cellular defenses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows metal ions can influence some viral and cellular enzymes, but the proposal that many viral proteases use iron-sulfur or similar clusters is a relatively new and not yet widely confirmed idea.
Where this research is happening
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Brandeis University
Waltham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pandelia, Maria-Eirini — Brandeis University
- Study coordinator: Pandelia, Maria-Eirini
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.