New chemical tools to map membrane protein structures like GLUT1 in cells
NEW CHEMICAL PROBES ENABLE MASS SPECTROMETRY-BASED FOOTPRINTING OF HUMAN PROTEIN STRUCTURE IN LIPID MEMBRANES AND CELLS
['FUNDING_R01'] · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11321573
Researchers are developing chemical probes and mass spectrometry methods to map how membrane proteins such as GLUT1 behave and bind drugs, aiming to inform better cancer treatments.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11321573 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
As a patient, I would know this project is creating new chemical probes that can reach and label proteins buried in cell membranes so their shapes and drug interactions can be read by mass spectrometry. The team will design, test, and improve probes that work in real cell membranes and live cells, targeting normally hard-to-reach transmembrane regions. They will apply these methods specifically to GLUT1, a glucose transporter important in many cancers, to learn where drugs bind and how the protein moves inside cells. The work is focused on laboratory and cell-based experiments done at Washington University rather than immediate clinical testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers that depend on membrane transporters like GLUT1, or those willing to donate tumor or tissue samples for laboratory research, would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People whose conditions do not involve membrane protein targets or who need immediate clinical therapy are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this methods-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable design of more effective cancer drugs that precisely target membrane proteins by revealing their drug-binding sites and behaviors.
How similar studies have performed: Related mass-spectrometry footprinting approaches have shown promise for mapping protein surfaces, but applying them to hydrophobic transmembrane regions is relatively new and still experimental.
Where this research is happening
SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES
- WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY — SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: LI, WEIKAI — WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: LI, WEIKAI
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.
Conditions: Anti-Cancer Agents, Cancer Drug