Understanding How Cell Motors Carry Their Cargo
Regulation of myosin V interaction with cargo
This research explores how tiny motors inside our cells, called Myosin V, pick up and drop off important materials, which is vital for healthy body function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11124658 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our cells depend on microscopic motor proteins, known as Myosin V, to transport essential components like organelles and genetic instructions to their correct locations at the right time. When these cellular motors malfunction, it can lead to serious health conditions. This project seeks to uncover the precise ways Myosin V motors attach to and release the materials they carry. By studying a simpler system in yeast, we aim to gain fundamental insights into these critical cellular transport processes, which are conserved across many organisms, including humans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational laboratory research is not recruiting patients directly but could eventually benefit individuals with diseases linked to Myosin V mutations.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or direct clinical intervention for their conditions will not find direct benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Successfully understanding these basic cellular mechanisms could pave the way for future treatments for diseases caused by faulty Myosin V motors.
How similar studies have performed: While some aspects of Myosin V function have been identified, there are still significant gaps in our knowledge regarding the control of cargo attachment and detachment.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weisman, Lois S — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Weisman, Lois S
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.