Investigating new enzymes that help produce antibiotics and cancer drugs

Structures and Mechanisms of “Heme-oxygenase-like” Non-heme Di-iron Enzymes that Catalyze Complex N-oxygenation and Olefin-installing C–C-Fragmentation Reactions

NIH-funded research Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10647843

This study is exploring a special group of enzymes that help create important medicines, like antibiotics and cancer treatments, by using oxygen in a unique way, and the goal is to find out how these enzymes work so they can be used to make better drugs for patients.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (University Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-10647843 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on a newly identified family of enzymes that utilize di-iron clusters to activate oxygen for complex oxidation reactions. These enzymes play a crucial role in the production of important compounds, including antibiotics and cancer drugs. By studying their structures and mechanisms, researchers aim to uncover how these enzymes function and how they can be harnessed for therapeutic purposes. Patients may benefit from advancements in drug development stemming from this research.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research would include individuals with infections resistant to current antibiotics or those with specific types of cancer.

Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to antibiotic resistance or cancer may not receive direct benefits from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new antibiotics and cancer treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in understanding enzyme mechanisms for drug development, suggesting potential success for this novel approach.

Where this research is happening

University Park, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Anti-Cancer Agents
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.