How sugar attachments change the chaperone protein Grp94
N-glycosylation as a regulator of Grp94 Function and Activity
Researchers are looking at whether adding sugar molecules to the helper protein Grp94 changes how it folds and supports other proteins in conditions like type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Buffalo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Amherst, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11168681 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a patient, you can expect researchers to change the sugar attachments on the Grp94 protein and watch how that affects its behavior using biochemical tests and human cell models. They will identify which sugar sites are used under cell stress and measure how those changes alter Grp94's ability to bind and fold other proteins. The team will use lab assays of ATPase activity and protein folding and may analyze samples that reflect disease-like conditions. The aim is to reveal molecular switches that could guide the design of future therapies for diseases such as type 2 diabetes and HER2-positive breast cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with type 2 diabetes, HER2-positive breast cancer, familial hypercholesterolemia, or multiple myeloma are the patient groups most likely to benefit from this line of research in the future.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or those with conditions unrelated to ER chaperone dysfunction are unlikely to see direct clinical benefit from this basic laboratory research right away.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to target Grp94's sugar modifications and lead to therapies for diabetes and some cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier laboratory studies have shown that hyperglycosylation can change Grp94 function, but translating these findings into therapies is still a novel and active area of research.
Where this research is happening
Amherst, United States
- State University of New York at Buffalo — Amherst, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gewirth, Daniel T — State University of New York at Buffalo
- Study coordinator: Gewirth, Daniel T
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.