How tiny sugar tags on proteins help cells communicate
Cell signaling through O-GlcNAc reader proteins
This project learns how a common protein sugar tag, called O-GlcNAc, influences cell signaling in conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169916 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, researchers are mapping which proteins can 'read' O-GlcNAc sugar tags using experiments on purified proteins and human cell lines. They use biochemical binding tests and cell-based assays to find proteins that attach to O-GlcNAc-modified sites and examine how those attachments change signaling inside cells. The team has identified members of the 14-3-3 protein family as likely readers and is exploring how these interactions integrate with other signals like phosphorylation. Findings combine molecular, structural, and cellular work to build a clearer picture of how O-GlcNAc controls important cell processes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project is lab-based and does not actively recruit patients, but people with cancers, diabetes, or neurodegenerative conditions are the populations most likely to benefit from the findings in the future.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or those with conditions unrelated to O-GlcNAc signaling should not expect direct clinical benefit from this laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new drug targets to correct faulty cell signaling in cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies showed O-GlcNAc changes protein interactions and hinted at reader proteins, but identifying specific reader proteins and their structural mechanisms is a newer and still-developing area.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Boyce, Michael S — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Boyce, Michael 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.