How the front (N-terminal) region of the SIRT1 protein controls its activity
Official title: Elucidating the Mechanism for Allosteric Regulation of SIRT1 through the N-terminal Region
Funded at San Jose State University · NIH-11323175 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers want to learn how a specific part of the SIRT1 protein changes its activity, which could matter for people with type 2 diabetes or Alzheimer's disease.
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 | June 5, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $146,500 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM149377-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323175 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not enroll patients now, but future clinical work based on these findings would most likely involve adults with type 2 diabetes or early-stage Alzheimer's disease.
✕Less likely to help
People needing immediate clinical treatment or those whose conditions do not involve SIRT1-related pathways are unlikely to see direct benefit from this basic lab research.
What this research studies
From my point of view, scientists will study the SIRT1 protein in the lab to see how its N-terminal region changes shape and affects its ability to work. They will test how small molecules like resveratrol and other sirtuin-activating compounds bind and change SIRT1 behavior. The team will use biochemical and biophysical experiments, and likely cell-based assays, to map interactions between the N-terminal motifs and the enzyme's catalytic core. The goal is to explain how these internal changes could be used to boost or tune SIRT1 activity in disease-relevant pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to design drugs that boost or modulate SIRT1 activity to help with insulin regulation in diabetes or to protect brain cells in Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Some compounds such as resveratrol and other STACs have shown SIRT1-activating effects in cells and animal models, but translating those effects into reliable human treatments has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
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San Jose State University
San Jose, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Ningkun — San Jose State University
- Study coordinator: Wang, Ningkun
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.