How unusual protein droplets form in cells and change cell behavior
Mechanisms of Assembly and Functional Regulation in Non-canonical Biomolecular Condensates
This project looks at how certain proteins form membraneless droplets inside cells and how those droplets change cell signaling, which can play a role in diseases like cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11143239 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will watch how proteins form micrometer-scale membraneless droplets (condensates) inside living cells, including a cancer fusion protein called EML4-ALK. They will use CRISPR-based imaging to tag molecules, optogenetics to control condensate formation with light, and custom algorithms to measure assembly and client recruitment. The team will search for previously unknown sequence motifs and biophysical rules that let proteins cooperate in condensates. Understanding these mechanisms aims to explain how misregulated condensates change cell signaling and drive disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers driven by EML4-ALK fusions or other conditions linked to abnormal protein condensates, and those willing to donate tumor tissue or blood, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to protein condensates or who cannot provide samples are unlikely to benefit directly from this laboratory-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets and strategies to prevent or treat diseases caused by abnormal protein condensates, such as some cancers.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that biomolecular condensates can alter cell signaling and contribute to disease, but this proposal explores novel 'non-canonical' condensates and uses new tools, so parts are untested.
Where this research is happening
Austin, United States
- University of Texas at Austin — Austin, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guan, Juan — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Guan, Juan
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.