How the muscle enzyme IPMK affects energy use and exercise
Role of skeletal muscle IPMK in nutrient metabolism and exercise
This work explores whether the muscle enzyme IPMK helps muscles use fuel, keep blood sugar steady, and support better exercise endurance in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11286814 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient perspective, researchers are using mouse and cell models to remove or alter IPMK in skeletal muscle and watch what happens to how muscles burn fuel and respond to insulin. They measure glucose tolerance, mitochondrial function, fat-burning (beta-oxidation), and protein acetylation changes that affect metabolism. Prior data show mice without muscle IPMK have worse glucose control and exercise performance, so the team will dig into the molecular steps behind those problems. The goal is to understand how IPMK in muscle contributes to whole-body energy balance and why its levels change with exercise and diabetes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with or at risk for metabolic problems such as type 2 diabetes or reduced exercise tolerance would be the most relevant group for potential future human studies based on this work.
Not a fit: People with health issues unrelated to muscle energy metabolism or who need immediate clinical treatments are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to improve blood sugar control and exercise capacity by targeting muscle IPMK pathways.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and animal studies have linked IPMK to metabolism and shown metabolic defects in muscle-specific IPMK knockout mice, but human benefits remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ahima, Rexford S. — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Ahima, Rexford S.
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.