How Protein Kinase C — a key cellular switch — is controlled by lipids
Official title: Structural and Functional Studies of Protein Kinase C Regulation
Funded at Texas A&m Agrilife Research · NIH-11327360 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers aim to reveal how lipids and small molecules turn Protein Kinase C on or off, which could help people with Alzheimer's and other diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m Agrilife Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2014 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $322,319 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM108998-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-11327360 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for related future work would be adults living with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias who are willing to be contacted about donating samples or participating in translational collaborations.
✕Less likely to help
People looking for immediate treatment or direct clinical benefit should not expect personal health improvements from this basic laboratory research.
What this research studies
Scientists will look at Protein Kinase C (PKC) at atomic detail using methods like solution NMR spectroscopy and x-ray crystallography to see how it binds lipids and drugs. They will run computer-based molecular dynamics simulations to model how PKC moves and changes shape. The team will also use imaging experiments in yeast and mammalian cells to test how those molecular changes affect PKC function in living cells. Together, these methods are meant to connect atomic-level findings to cell behavior relevant to disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could guide the design of new drugs that correct PKC dysfunction and potentially slow or prevent disease processes linked to Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have gone: Prior structural and biochemical studies have clarified aspects of PKC function, but this integrated atomic-level and cellular approach is relatively novel and aims to reveal previously hidden regulatory mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m Agrilife Research
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Igumenova, Tatyana I. — Texas A&m Agrilife Research
- Study coordinator: Igumenova, Tatyana I.
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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.