Understanding how bacterial Fe-S clusters are built and regulated
Official title: Conformational dynamics and allosteric regulation during stress-responsive metallocofactor assembly
Funded at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa · NIH-11368566 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how bacteria assemble iron-sulfur clusters and how this process is controlled by protein partners, which could help develop new antibiotics.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tuscaloosa, United States) |
| Project start | January 10, 2015 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $374,777 |
| NIH project number | 2R01GM112919-09A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11368566 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable to patients in this basic science grant (lab-based work on bacteria).
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation or benefit from this basic science project.
What this research studies
This project looks at the Suf pathway in bacteria to map how Suf proteins interact to build iron-sulfur clusters, especially under stress conditions like oxidative stress or low iron. Researchers will examine how ATPase activity and other signals regulate cluster assembly and trafficking on the SufBC2D scaffold, using approaches that may include biochemical assays and interaction studies. The work aims to identify key interaction points that could be targeted by future antibiotics to disrupt this essential pathway in pathogens.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could reveal new targets for antibiotics that disrupt bacterial Fe-S cluster assembly.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that disrupting Suf pathway components can hinder bacterial Fe-S cluster formation, supporting potential for novel antibiotics.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frantom, Patrick — University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
- Study coordinator: Frantom, Patrick
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Integrated framework to validate and quantify proteoforms in patient-derived ovarian cancer cells
A collaboration will combine advanced top-down proteomics with a new computational method to precisely identify and measure intact proteoforms in tiny samples from ovarian cancer cells.
-
Omega-3 fats in diet to calm overactive nerves in adults
A study to see if adding omega-3 rich foods or supplements can reduce nerve hyperactivity and improve neurological symptoms in adults.
-
BBTI vs. BMT to improve sleep and thinking in older adults with HIV
This grant tests two sleep-improvement approaches to see which helps older adults with HIV sleep better and think more clearly.
-
How aging changes how we respond to viral infections
Aging changes how the body handles viruses, and this project uses fruit flies to understand why older individuals may be more vulnerable to viral infections.
-
Tow truck operator safety: preventing struck-by injuries on the road
Aimed at reducing fatalities and injuries among tow truck workers by finding practical ways to prevent drivers from striking them.
-
Polyester Particles to Understand How Drugs Move from the Gut to Blood
Researchers are developing tiny polymer particles to improve oral drug delivery and we may one day benefit from better absorption and predictable effects of medicines taken by mouth.
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.