Proteins that help airway cilia move properly
Function of Ruvbl1-Ruvbl2 in dynein arm assembly in motile ciliated epithelial cells
Researchers are looking at how two helper proteins, Ruvbl1 and Ruvbl2, build the tiny motors in airway cilia that matter for people with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181184 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I have PCD, this project uses zebrafish, mice, and airway cells grown in the lab to learn how Ruvbl1 and Ruvbl2 help assemble dynein arms, the microscopic motors that make cilia beat. The team will study where these proteins sit inside cells and how they help fold and put together dynein components. They will combine genetics in animals with experiments in cultured tracheal cells to see what goes wrong when these proteins don't work. The goal is to map the step-by-step process of dynein arm assembly that keeps cilia moving.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) or suspected cilia-motility disorders would be the most relevant patient group for this research.
Not a fit: Patients without cilia motility problems or whose symptoms come from unrelated causes are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new molecular targets for treatments that restore cilia motion or slow lung disease progression in PCD.
How similar studies have performed: Related research has identified other dynein assembly factors and used animal models to study cilia defects, but focusing on Ruvbl1/Ruvbl2 and their membrane-less foci is a newer, less-tested angle.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Zhaoxia — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Sun, Zhaoxia
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.