Understanding a Human Enzyme to Improve Drug Effectiveness
The role of intrinsic disorder in the allosteric regulation of human UGDH
This project explores how a specific human enzyme, hUGDH, is naturally controlled, aiming to discover new ways to make medicines work better for patients, especially those with cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Georgia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Athens, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167561 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many promising medicines fail during clinical trials because the body processes them too quickly through a mechanism called glucuronidation. Our goal is to develop strategies to control this process by limiting the availability of its essential building blocks. We are focusing on the human UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (hUGDH) enzyme, which produces these building blocks. We are learning how a flexible part of this enzyme changes its structure to favor or block the binding of natural inhibitors. By uncovering these intricate control mechanisms, we hope to create tools that can improve how drugs are handled by the body, making them more effective.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patients, but its findings could eventually benefit patients whose medications are negatively affected by glucuronidation, such as those undergoing cancer treatment.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not impacted by drug metabolism through glucuronidation would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new methods for designing drugs that are more effective and less likely to fail in clinical trials, particularly for cancer patients.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work by this team has already identified key mechanisms by which the hUGDH enzyme is regulated, providing a strong foundation for this current investigation.
Where this research is happening
Athens, United States
- University of Georgia — Athens, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wood, Zachary Arthur — University of Georgia
- Study coordinator: Wood, Zachary Arthur
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.