Targeted protein degradation through arginylation in cancer biology
Official title: Hijacking Post-Translational Arginylation for Targeted Protein Degradation
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11517223 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach uses the enzyme ATE1 to identify and modify cancer-related proteins, aiming to develop ways to selectively degrade those proteins to slow cancer progression.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 2, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $202,682 |
| NIH project number | 7R21CA292191-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11517223 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers where arginylation and ATE1 activity are relevant (e.g., prostate cancer) may benefit from future therapies developed from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cancers influenced by arginylation pathways may not directly benefit from this grant.
What this research studies
This project will map which cancer-related proteins undergo arginylation by ATE1 and identify exact arginylation sites using a novel ABAP method. The team plans to create a cancer substrate library from commonly used cell lines to understand how arginylation links to cancer growth and metastasis. The goal is to harness ATE1-driven arginylation to drive the targeted destruction of cancer-promoting proteins. The work relies on advanced proteomics and molecular biology in laboratory settings, with potential implications for future therapies. Results could inform new strategies for drugs that promote degradation of harmful cancer proteins.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new targets for therapies that selectively remove cancer-causing proteins.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary methods like ABAP have shown promise in profiling arginylation in several cancer cell lines, suggesting potential for broader application.
Where this research is happening
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Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Zongtao — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Lin, Zongtao
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.