How nerve endings organize the proteins that release and recycle brain signals
Molecular Mechanisms for Co‐Assembly of Endocytic and Exocytic Machineries at a Synapse
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · NIH-11289324
This project looks at how nerve cells arrange the protein machinery that releases and recovers chemical signals in the brain, with relevance for disorders that affect brain communication.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11289324 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You should know researchers will study the tiny protein assemblies at nerve endings that control release and recycling of neurotransmitter. They focus on a scaffolding protein called Liprin-α and will change or remove it in cells and vertebrate models to see how release sites and recycling machinery are positioned. The team will use high-resolution imaging, biochemical binding tests, and cell or animal experiments to track where proteins cluster and whether phase separation drives organization. Results will be connected to proteins already linked to brain disorders to help explain how synaptic problems arise.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with brain disorders linked to synaptic protein problems (for example certain neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative conditions) would be the most relevant patient group, although the project is primarily laboratory-based.
Not a fit: Patients needing immediate clinical treatment or whose conditions are unrelated to synaptic protein dysfunction are unlikely to benefit directly from this lab-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal mechanisms that point to new targets for treating conditions caused by faulty synaptic communication.
How similar studies have performed: Other basic studies have identified synaptic scaffold proteins and ties to disease, but this specific focus on Liprin-α organizing both release and recycling machinery is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: EMPERADOR MELERO, JAVIER — NEW YORK UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
- Study coordinator: EMPERADOR MELERO, JAVIER
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.
Conditions: Brain Diseases, Brain Disorders