Translational control of gene expression in fungi (fungal uORF peptide study)
Official title: Translational control of gene expression in fungi
Funded at Texas A&m University · NIH-11372916 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how tiny genetic signals in fungi control how proteins are made, which could reveal new ways to understand fungal biology and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas A&m University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Station, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $303,998 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM148702-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372916 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patient participants in this grant (fungal molecular biology research).
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or benefit described in the grant as written.
What this research studies
This project focuses on fungal systems to uncover how upstream reading frames and their tiny peptide products influence the production of enzymes involved in metabolism. By examining a newly found conserved fungal peptide called the inositol regulatory peptide (IRP), researchers will map how it senses small molecules and stalls ribosomes to tune gene expression. The work will explore when and how often these uORFs are translated under different conditions and whether this mechanism is conserved across fungi. Overall, the study aims to fill key gaps in how regulated translation affects fungal physiology and metabolism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal fundamental ways fungi control their growth and metabolism, potentially informing new antifungal strategies or biotechnological applications.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests uORF-mediated regulation is a conserved mechanism in eukaryotes, but many aspects remain to be clarified in fungi.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas A&m University
College Station, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sachs, Matthew Steven — Texas A&m University
- Study coordinator: Sachs, Matthew Steven
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.