How nutrients and gut bacteria signals affect cells and health
Novel Nutrient Functions and Sensing Mechanisms
Researchers are studying how tiny chemical pieces made by gut bacteria interact with cell energy systems to learn how nutrients influence health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260692 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project uses tiny roundworms (C. elegans) to trace how bacterial molecules influence intestinal cells and whole-animal physiology. The team will purify bacterial cell-wall muropeptides and test whether these molecules enter mitochondria and act on ATP synthase to support mitochondrial health. They will also study non-traditional nutrient-sensing pathways, including signals that do not use standard receptors. Together the projects aim to reveal new nutrient signals from microbes that shape metabolism and could guide future human therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with metabolic, mitochondrial, or microbiome-related health concerns would be most interested in following this work as it could inform future treatments for those conditions.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or those with conditions unrelated to metabolism or the gut microbiome are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this laboratory-based research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify new nutrient-based signals and targets that lead to therapies or supplements for metabolic or mitochondrial-related conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show gut bacteria affect host physiology, but the idea that bacterial muropeptides enter mitochondria and act on ATP synthase is a novel and early-stage finding.
Where this research is happening
Boulder, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado — Boulder, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Han, Min — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Han, Min
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.