How the cell-division protein MAD2 changes shape as it's made on human ribosomes
Co-Translational Folding of Metamorphic Proteins: Assessing Structure-Function Transitions of the Mitotic Checkpoint Protein MAD2 on the Human Ribosome Surface and in the Presence of Folding Effectors
This project looks at how a key cell-division protein called MAD2 folds into different shapes while it's being made, which matters for preventing chromosome errors that can lead to cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179498 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are watching a single MAD2 molecule as it is produced on a human ribosome to see whether it adopts one shape or switches between shapes during synthesis. They use a novel single-human-ribosome translation assay with optical tweezers to follow the folding path in real time. The team will also test how cellular helpers called chaperones and other folding effectors change MAD2's folding choices. The goal is to understand the molecular steps that can lead to proper or faulty mitotic checkpoint function, which is linked to chromosome instability and cancer.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers characterized by chromosome instability, or patients willing to donate tumor or blood samples for related laboratory research, would be the most relevant participants to this line of work.
Not a fit: Patients without cancer or with cancers unrelated to mitotic checkpoint dysfunction are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal how MAD2 misfolding contributes to chromosome instability and point to new targets or strategies to prevent or treat cancers tied to faulty cell division.
How similar studies have performed: Previous protein-folding and mitotic-checkpoint studies have advanced understanding, but using single-human-ribosome optical tweezers to watch MAD2 fold in real time is a novel and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yan, Shannon — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Yan, Shannon
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.