How the cell’s environment affects p53 and PTEN stability and clumping
Official title: Mapping biophysical effects of the cellular environment on p53 and PTEN stability and aggregation
Funded at San Jose State University · NIH-11401848 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how the inside of cancer cells might push p53 and PTEN to misfold and form clumps, which could drive cancer progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Jose State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Jose, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $183,125 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM159690-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401848 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients in this phase; laboratory studies with purified proteins.
✕Less likely to help
Patients cannot directly participate in this purely laboratory project.
What this research studies
If successful, researchers will study purified p53 and PTEN proteins while exposing them to a library of cellular metabolites and patterns of chemical tags. They will measure how these factors change protein stability and trigger amyloid-like clumps using a fluorescence-based method. The goal is to understand the conditions that promote misfolding and aggregation, which could reveal new ways to restore normal tumor-suppressor function. The work uses biochemical tests in a controlled lab setting to map how the cell’s environment influences these proteins.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how cellular environment affects tumor suppressors could lead to new strategies to prevent or reverse p53 and PTEN dysfunction in cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that p53 and PTEN can form amyloid-like aggregates under stressed conditions, supporting the plausibility of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
San Jose State University
San Jose, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carroll, Emma C — San Jose State University
- Study coordinator: Carroll, Emma C
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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.