New Chemical Tools to Understand Protein Sugars
Chemical Tools for the Investigation and Manipulation of Protein Glycosylation
This project creates special chemical tools to help scientists better understand how sugar molecules attach to proteins in our bodies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11091421 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies add sugar molecules to proteins, a process called glycosylation, which is vital for how proteins work, interact, and send signals within cells. Currently, it's hard for scientists to study these sugar modifications, limiting our understanding of their role in health and disease. This project aims to develop new chemical tools that will make it easier to identify, block, and track these sugar additions in specific cells. These tools will help map how sugar molecules influence cell interactions and control important biological pathways, ultimately advancing our knowledge of fundamental biology.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patients but aims to develop tools that could eventually benefit individuals with diseases where protein glycosylation plays a role.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention would not find direct benefit from participating in this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these new tools could significantly advance our understanding of diseases linked to protein glycosylation, potentially leading to new ways to diagnose or treat them.
How similar studies have performed: This project builds upon existing work in carbohydrate chemistry and chemical biology to develop novel and more precise tools for studying glycosylation.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- University of Southern California — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pratt, Matthew Robert — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Pratt, Matthew Robert
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.