How ubiquitin tags affect toxic tau clumps in Alzheimer’s
The Role of Ubiquitination in Tau Oligomers Pathogenesis
This project studies whether small chemical tags called ubiquitin on toxic tau clumps make them harder for brain cells to clear and help them spread in people with Alzheimer’s.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11303291 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze tau protein clumps taken from Alzheimer’s brains and map the specific ubiquitin tags attached to them. They will use lab-grown neurons and animal models to see if those tags let tau clumps escape the cell’s clean-up machinery and move between cells. The team will study how tagged tau interacts with the proteasome, the cell’s protein-disposal system, and test whether changing ubiquitination alters tau stability and spread. Findings will be used to suggest new approaches that help brain cells remove toxic tau and slow disease progression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with Alzheimer’s disease or families willing to donate brain tissue for research, although the project primarily uses lab and tissue samples rather than enrolling patients.
Not a fit: People without tau-related Alzheimer's or those expecting immediate treatment benefits are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that help brain cells remove toxic tau and slow cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked tau oligomers and ubiquitin to Alzheimer’s, but the specific role of mono-ubiquitination in helping tau evade the proteasome is a relatively new and actively explored idea.
Where this research is happening
Galveston, United States
- University of Texas Med Br Galveston — Galveston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kayed, Rakez — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Kayed, Rakez
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.