How the cell acid 'pumps' (V-ATPases) work and affect disease
Regulation and Cellular Functions of V-ATPases
This work explores how tiny cellular proton pumps and their helper proteins function because changes in them can contribute to epilepsy, dementia, and some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Upstate Medical University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Syracuse, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11307032 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's view, researchers are studying V-ATPases, the protein complexes that control acid levels inside cell compartments, and the Rabconnectin-3 helpers that control them. They will use yeast and mammalian cells to look at the structure, how subunits come apart and reassemble, and how different protein isoforms and lipids influence activity. The team will also examine mutations in Rabconnectin-3 that have been linked to epilepsy and neurodegeneration to understand how they might cause disease. This work is laboratory-based and aimed at finding precise molecular steps that could be targeted later by therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with epilepsy, certain neurodegenerative disorders (including forms of dementia), or cancers linked to V-ATPase or Rabconnectin-3 pathway changes are the patient groups most relevant to this research, though the grant itself focuses on lab studies rather than patient enrollment.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to cell acidification or the V-ATPase/Rabconnectin-3 pathways are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could point to new molecular targets or strategies to correct faulty cell acidity control, which might eventually help treat some epilepsies, neurodegenerative conditions, or cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory work in yeast and mammalian cells has clarified many V-ATPase mechanisms, but turning those findings into human treatments remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Syracuse, United States
- Upstate Medical University — Syracuse, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kane, Patricia M — Upstate Medical University
- Study coordinator: Kane, Patricia M
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.