Investigating how molybdenum cofactor affects metabolism in animals
Official title: Genetic analyses of molybdenum cofactor biology
Funded at Sanford Research/usd · NIH-10846690 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special nutrient called molybdenum cofactor (Moco) helps our bodies work properly, especially for people who might have problems because they don't have enough of it, using tiny worms to learn more about how Moco is made and controlled, which could help find new ways to treat related health issues in humans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sanford Research/usd NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sioux Falls, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $415,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM146871-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10846690 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with known molybdenum cofactor deficiencies or related metabolic disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with metabolic disorders unrelated to molybdenum cofactor or those without genetic predispositions to Moco deficiency may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of molybdenum cofactor (Moco) in animal metabolism, particularly how deficiencies in Moco can lead to severe metabolic disorders. Using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans, the research employs genetic and biochemical techniques to explore how Moco is synthesized and regulated in the body. The goal is to uncover new mechanisms that maintain Moco levels and to identify genetic pathways that influence Moco-related metabolism, which could provide insights into treating related human conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and potential treatments for rare metabolic disorders caused by Moco deficiency.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of studying Moco biology in C. elegans is novel, similar genetic analyses have shown promise in understanding other metabolic disorders.
Where this research is happening
-
Sanford Research/usd
Sioux Falls, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Warnhoff, Kurt — Sanford Research/usd
- Study coordinator: Warnhoff, Kurt
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Community-based cancer research to improve care and trials in rural areas
A rural cancer research program is expanding access to modern cancer trials, prevention, and care delivery improvements for people living across the upper Midwest.
-
Genetic clues to how molybdenum cofactor supports life
Aiming to understand how molybdenum cofactor keeps essential body chemistry running, using a worm model to uncover pathways that could inform human metabolic diseases.
-
Understanding how early neural stem cells grow to form the cortex and how this affects autism
Researchers are studying how early brain cells divide and become different types, which can influence autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
-
GPCR signaling: how these receptors talk to many proteins in the body
This project looks at how GPCRs communicate with different G proteins to influence many body processes and drug responses.
-
Sanford Community Cancer Program — cancer trials and care for the North Central Plains
This program brings NCI-supported cancer clinical trials, prevention efforts, and care-improvement projects to patients across the rural North Central Plains.
-
How brain cells build and remodel tiny antennas called cilia to control signals
Scientists are studying how tiny brain cell antennas, called primary cilia, form and remodel to help brain cells communicate and develop properly.
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.