Regulation of mtDNA copying and repair by the mitochondrial chaperone Mortalin
Official title: Regulation of mtDNA replication and repair by mitochondrial Hsp70 chaperone, Mortalin
Funded at University of North Florida · NIH-11444846 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how the mitochondrial chaperone Mortalin helps copy and fix mitochondrial DNA to understand diseases that affect multiple organs, including Alzheimer's and Alpers’ disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jacksonville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $555,000 |
| NIH project number | 2R15GM139104-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11444846 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with Alpers’ syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease dementia, or other mitochondrial disorders could potentially benefit from advances stemming from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without mitochondrial DNA maintenance disorders may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will study how Mortalin and its partner Tid1 regulate the mtDNA replication process, focusing on why replication often stops at a key checkpoint called TAS. The work aims to connect basic biology of mitochondria to broader degenerative diseases that patients may encounter, such as Alpers’ syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease dementia. By using human cells and model systems, the team hopes to identify mechanisms that could be targeted to maintain healthy mitochondrial DNA copies. Results could inform future therapies to reduce multi-organ degeneration seen in mitochondrial disorders and age-related diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding Mortalin’s control of mtDNA could lead to new approaches to stabilize mitochondria and slow progression of related diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Past research has shown mitochondrial replication checkpoints influence disease; this project builds on that foundation with a focused role for Mortalin, which is promising but still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ciesielski, Grzegorz Leszek — University of North Florida
- Study coordinator: Ciesielski, Grzegorz Leszek
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.