Understanding how cancer starts translating proteins at non-traditional start sites
Official title: Mechanism of stringent translation initiation: a probe for its biological relevance
Funded at Kansas State University · NIH-11353790 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how cancer cells may start producing proteins from unusual start sites, which could reveal new clues about cancer behavior and prognosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kansas State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Manhattan, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $296,770 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM147542-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353790 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients whose cancers express or harbor alterations in the translation initiation pathway, particularly non-AUG start site usage.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers do not involve non-AUG translation mechanisms or 5MP/t6A alterations may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will map non-AUG start sites across cancer model systems to see where translation begins outside the usual AUG site. It will verify selected sites and uncover the mechanisms regulating these non-traditional starts, especially in cancer. It also examines the role of 5MP and t6A modifications in controlling non-AUG translation and whether cancer-related mutations in 5MP change initiation accuracy and patient outcomes. The work uses genome-wide profiling and functional studies to connect basic translation biology with cancer biology and potential clinical relevance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could improve understanding of cancer biology and identify new biomarkers or targets related to protein production in tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Past work in model systems shows non-AUG translation can occur and may impact disease, but human cancer-specific mechanisms are still being clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Kansas State University
Manhattan, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Asano, Katsura — Kansas State University
- Study coordinator: Asano, Katsura
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.