How the enzyme that makes DNA building blocks (ribonucleotide reductase) works
Mechanism-Function Studies of Ribonucleotide Reductase
This research looks at how the enzyme ribonucleotide reductase makes the DNA building blocks your cells need, aiming to inform better treatments for cancer and other diseases tied to DNA problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11045272 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers at Harvard are studying the detailed chemical steps that let ribonucleotide reductase produce the building blocks for DNA, focusing on how electrons and protons move during the reaction. They use biochemical experiments, targeted mutations, and advanced structural and spectroscopic methods to watch and perturb the enzyme's long-range radical transfer pathway. By mapping how small changes affect the enzyme's function, the team hopes to pinpoint steps that drugs could target. The work emphasizes the human form of the enzyme and connections to cancers and other diseases caused by imbalances in DNA precursors.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers or other disorders linked to DNA synthesis or repair, or patients interested in contributing samples for translational research on ribonucleotide reductase, would be most relevant to follow or potentially participate down the line.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to DNA building-block metabolism or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to benefit directly from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new or improved drugs that target the enzyme to treat cancer, viral or bacterial infections, or inflammatory conditions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous biochemical and clinical work has produced drugs that target RNR and provided mechanistic insights, but the specific long-range radical transport mechanisms remain an active and partly unresolved research area.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Harvard University — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nocera, Daniel G. — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Nocera, Daniel G.
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.