How proteins change shape to enter cell membranes
Elucidating the Molecular Mechanisms of Conformational Switching during Protein Insertion into Membranes
This project looks at how proteins change shape and insert into cell membranes, which affects tumor-targeting peptides and proteins that control cell death.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11140340 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use small model peptides and lab measurements to see how membrane lipid mix, calcium and magnesium levels, and acidity (pH) influence whether proteins insert into cell membranes. They will measure the thermodynamics of these interactions and how protonation and divalent cations change peptide behavior. The team will update and expand sequence-based computer tools so predictions reflect more realistic cellular conditions. Findings are intended to improve our understanding of tumor-targeting peptides like pHLIP and the membrane activation of apoptosis regulators such as Bcl-2.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers or other conditions linked to Bcl-2–regulated apoptosis or who might benefit from tumor-targeting peptides could be relevant candidates for future studies informed by this work.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to membrane-insertion processes or who need immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to benefit directly from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help design better tumor-targeting peptides and drugs that control cell-death pathways.
How similar studies have performed: Related laboratory and translational work, including pHLIP tumor-targeting research and studies of Bcl-2 activation, has shown promising proof-of-concept, but the specific effects of lipid composition and divalent cations are less well explored.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ladokhin, Alexey — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Ladokhin, Alexey
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.