How the vitamin K cycle controls blood clotting and blood vessel health
Structural and Functional Basis of the Vitamin K Cycle
This work looks at how vitamin K and the enzymes that use it control clotting and vessel health to help people at risk for clots, bleeding, or vascular disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248762 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient point of view, scientists are studying the proteins that use vitamin K to keep blood clotting working properly and to protect blood vessels. They examine the 3D structures and chemistry of key enzymes (like VKOR, GGCX, and FSP1) and change their redox states to see how that affects clotting and a form of cell death called ferroptosis. Lab experiments use purified proteins, cell models, and animal studies to map how the vitamin K cycle works. The goal is to link these basic findings to conditions like excessive bleeding from warfarin and vascular disease so new treatments can be designed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People most relevant would include those who take anticoagulants (like warfarin), have had thromboembolic events, or have vascular calcification or related cardiovascular disease.
Not a fit: People without clotting or vascular conditions or those seeking an immediate new therapy are unlikely to get direct benefit from this basic lab-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to safer anticoagulant strategies, ways to reduce bleeding risk from drugs like warfarin, and new treatments that protect blood vessels.
How similar studies have performed: Some parts are well known (VKOR is the warfarin target), but linking vitamin K reductases to ferroptosis and actively modulating VKOR redox are newer and largely untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Weikai — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Li, Weikai
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.