How the cell's proton pumps (V-ATPases) are built and controlled
Molecular Mechanisms of V-ATPases: Assembly, Biogenesis, Regulation, and Function
Researchers are mapping how V-ATPase proton pumps are made and regulated to help people with conditions linked to these pumps, like certain infections, kidney and bone disorders, hearing loss, neurodegeneration, and some cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11336722 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a condition linked to V-ATPase problems, this research is working to purify human V-ATPase complexes and reveal their structures. Scientists will use biochemical and biophysical tools, including cryo-electron microscopy at near-atomic detail, to see how the parts fit together and change shape. They will also study how sugars, fats, and other molecules interact with V-ATPases and how these machines are assembled and controlled inside cells. This is laboratory-based work rather than a patient treatment trial, but the goal is to uncover mechanisms that could guide new diagnostics or therapies for diseases tied to V-ATPase malfunction.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project does not enroll patients, but people affected by diseases linked to V-ATPase dysfunction—such as certain infections, renal tubular acidosis, osteoporosis, hearing loss, neurodegenerative disorders, or some cancers—are most likely to benefit from the results.
Not a fit: People with conditions unrelated to V-ATPase biology (for example many common injuries or conditions not tied to cellular pH regulation) are unlikely to see direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could point to new drug targets or diagnostic approaches for diseases caused by V-ATPase dysfunction.
How similar studies have performed: Previous structural and biochemical work has advanced understanding in simpler systems, but this project is novel in purifying human V-ATPase complexes and producing high-resolution cryo-EM structures that show multiple functional states.
Where this research is happening
Worcester, United States
- Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester — Worcester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fu, Tianmin — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Fu, Tianmin
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.