How the mitochondrial protein PSAP affects nerve cell survival in ALS
Official title: Novel role of mitochondrial carrier protein PSAP in regulation of both apoptosis and autophagy in ALS
Funded at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso · NIH-11393391 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether lowering a mitochondrial protein called PSAP can protect motor neurons and help people with ALS.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (El Paso, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $335,237 |
| NIH project number | 7R01NS134931-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393391 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with ALS—especially those interested in therapies aimed at mitochondrial dysfunction or with SOD1-related disease—would be most relevant to the goals of this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without ALS or whose disease is driven by unrelated mechanisms may not benefit from findings focused on PSAP-related pathways.
What this research studies
Researchers are using an established ALS mouse model and cell experiments to see how PSAP controls both programmed cell death (apoptosis) and the cell's waste-removal system (autophagy). Preliminary work showed that removing PSAP in SOD1G93A mice improved movement and extended lifespan, and reduced markers of caspase-3 activation and p62-containing inclusions in spinal cord cells. The team will map how PSAP interacts with mitochondrial proteins such as VDAC1 and how those interactions change apoptosis and autophagy pathways using molecular, biochemical, and imaging methods. Findings are intended to point toward molecular steps that might be targeted to preserve motor neurons.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify a new biological target that leads to treatments that slow motor neuron loss and preserve function in people with ALS.
How similar studies have gone: Approaches that reduce mitochondrial-driven apoptosis or boost autophagy have shown benefit in preclinical ALS models, but targeting PSAP specifically is a novel direction supported by encouraging mouse data.
Where this research is happening
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Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso
El Paso, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Xuemin — Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at El Paso
- Study coordinator: Xu, Xuemin
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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.