Structure and function of a liver enzyme that makes glucose
Official title: Structure and Mechanism of the Glucose-6-Phosphatase Catalytic Subunit 1
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11400306 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Vanderbilt is exploring how a liver enzyme (G6PC1) is built and works, to understand why too much glucose is produced in diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 21, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $332,555 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM149686-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11400306 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a direct patient study; however, findings may inform future therapies targeting liver glucose production in diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation is involved in this grant.
What this research studies
Researchers will map the 3D structure of G6PC1, an enzyme in liver cells, and study how its shape affects its activity. They will use a combination of biophysical methods and computer models to understand where the enzyme binds substrates and how mutations cause disease. The work aims to connect structural details with how the enzyme contributes to blood sugar regulation and diabetes. The project builds on existing purification methods to study the enzyme in its membrane environment. Results could guide future strategies to control glucose production in the liver.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how the liver enzyme controls blood sugar could lead to new approaches for diabetes treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests that structural insights into membrane enzymes can reveal how mutations affect function, with promising translational potential.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Claxton, Derek P — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Claxton, Derek P
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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.