Tools to understand DnaJB6 behavior in spinobulbar muscular atrophy
Developing Tools to Probe DnaJB6 Dynamics in Spinobulbular Muscular Atrophy
This project will create and use chemical tools that change how the DnaJB6 protein behaves to help people with spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA).
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11250983 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study how the helper protein DnaJB6 forms and changes shape inside cells. They will search for small molecules that stabilize or alter DnaJB6 complexes. Those molecules will then be tested in cell models and in animals that mimic SBMA to see if they reduce harmful clumps of the mutant androgen receptor. The goal is to produce tools that help scientists understand and target the processes that damage motor neurons in SBMA.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project is a lab- and animal-based program and is not recruiting patients for clinical participation at this time.
Not a fit: People who do not have SBMA or the disease-causing androgen receptor mutation are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify chemical leads and research tools that slow or prevent the toxic protein clumping that drives nerve damage in SBMA and related neurodegenerative diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show DnaJB6 can block protein aggregation in cells, but using small-molecule probes to tune DnaJB6 activity is largely a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnson, Oleta Tanitrea — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Johnson, Oleta Tanitrea
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.