How transport along nerve-cell highways works
Molecular mechanism of bidirectional transport
Researchers are figuring out how tiny motor proteins carry packages along nerve-cell highways, which could help people with Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11259971 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You can think of neurons as long highways where molecular motors like kinesin and dynein carry important cargo along microtubule tracks. The team will watch single motor proteins using gold nanoparticles and a DNA 'spring' to measure how they move under load and how microtubule ends grow and shrink. They will record movements at millisecond and nanometer resolution to learn why transport sometimes fails in neurons. This is lab-based work at Penn State using purified proteins and advanced microscopy rather than testing treatments in people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The long-term target population is people with Alzheimer's disease, although this laboratory project does not enroll patients directly.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatments or those without neurodegenerative conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this lab-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for therapies that protect nerve-cell transport in Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory studies have revealed parts of motor protein behavior, but this high-resolution, load-dependent approach is relatively new and aims to fill remaining gaps.
Where this research is happening
University Park, United States
- Pennsylvania State University, the — University Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hancock, William Olaf — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Hancock, William Olaf
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.