How receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) control cell signaling
Understanding general principles in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling through structural and functional studies
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11323490
This project explores how RTKs — proteins on cell surfaces — change shape and send different signals, which could help people with cancers, diabetes, and other RTK-related conditions.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DALLAS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11323490 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From your perspective, the researchers are mapping how RTKs — proteins on the cell surface — change shape when they bind signals and how those changes are passed through the membrane to the cell interior. They use high-resolution structural imaging (cryo-electron microscopy) combined with biochemical and functional lab tests to examine the extracellular, transmembrane, and intracellular regions of several RTKs. The team will look at why different ligands can trigger distinct downstream pathways (biased signaling) and why some receptors form large clusters when activated. Work is done at UT Southwestern using purified proteins, imaging, and molecular assays to build complete models of receptor behavior.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers, insulin-signaling disorders, or other conditions known to involve RTK malfunction could be future candidates for therapies informed by this research.
Not a fit: People whose conditions are unrelated to RTK signaling or who need immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how RTKs malfunction and point to new drug targets or better therapies for cancers, metabolic disorders, and other RTK-related diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior structural and functional studies of some RTKs have provided important insights, but full-length receptor coupling, signaling specificity, and clustering mechanisms remain largely unresolved.
Where this research is happening
DALLAS, UNITED STATES
- UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER — DALLAS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BAI, XIAOCHEN — UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: BAI, XIAOCHEN
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.