How proteins find and bind to DNA
Dynamics of DNA scanning and recognition by proteins
Researchers are using advanced NMR and laboratory methods to learn how DNA-binding proteins search for and stick to their correct DNA targets, which could help people with diseases caused by these proteins.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259580 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will use powerful nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques and other biophysical tools to watch how DNA-binding proteins move and find their targets at molecular, sub-molecular, and atomic scales. They will study how proteins overcome traps and obstacles on DNA, how flexible or disordered regions affect searching, and how brief dissociation/re-association events influence targeting. Experiments include NMR, stopped-flow fluorescence, and complementary biophysical assays to capture very fast and small-scale motions. By focusing on dynamics rather than only static 3-D structures, the work aims to reveal steps in the search-and-recognition process that are invisible in static images.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not directly enroll patients, but people with genetic disorders or cancers linked to malfunctioning DNA-binding proteins could be future beneficiaries or candidates for follow-on clinical studies.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to DNA-binding proteins or to genomic regulation are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic lab research in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help scientists design better drugs or molecular therapies that correct or compensate for faulty DNA-binding proteins involved in genetic diseases and cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Structural biology and NMR have previously provided important insights into protein-DNA interactions, and applying dynamic NMR and fast fluorescence methods to the search-and-recognition process builds on those successes while addressing novel, less-explored behavior.
Where this research is happening
Galveston, United States
- University of Texas Med Br Galveston — Galveston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Iwahara, Junji — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Iwahara, Junji
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.