Lysosome membranes and their protein cleanup system
Functional characterization of lysosome membrane and its protein quality control system
Researchers will look at how the lysosome membrane and its protein cleanup machinery work to better understand brain diseases like Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174213 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project studies the lysosome, the cell’s recycling center, and the proteins that control which membrane components get broken down. The team will identify human proteins that tag lysosomal membrane parts for destruction, map how the ESCRT machinery internalizes those tagged cargos, and probe how transporters and ion channels move molecules across the lysosome wall. They will use biochemical experiments, a lab-built reconstitution system for membrane transport proteins, and metabolomics of isolated lysosomes, including work using human-derived components when available. Findings are meant to clarify basic cell mechanisms that may go wrong in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Alzheimer's disease or other neurodegenerative conditions, or those willing to donate tissue or biological samples for research, would be most directly connected to this work.
Not a fit: Patients looking for immediate treatment changes or symptom relief are unlikely to benefit directly because this is laboratory-based basic research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets to slow or prevent nerve cell damage in Alzheimer's and related disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research has linked lysosome dysfunction to neurodegeneration and identified some degradation pathways, but much of the lysosomal membrane quality-control and transporter work is novel and remains at a preclinical stage.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Ming — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Li, Ming
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.