Understanding how cells manage protein breakdown
Proteasome homeostasis and substrate prioritization
This research explores how cells adjust their protein cleanup systems, called proteasomes, when under stress, which is important for understanding aging and diseases like cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11114037 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our cells constantly clean out old or damaged proteins using a system called the proteasome, which is crucial for keeping us healthy. When cells experience stress, such as from heat or oxidation, they need to adjust how these proteasomes work to keep up with demand. This project aims to uncover the detailed ways cells regulate these adjustments, including how new proteasome parts are put together and how existing proteasomes move around inside the cell. By understanding these fundamental processes, we hope to learn more about how protein cleanup goes wrong in conditions like cancer and age-related diseases.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with cancers or neurodegenerative diseases, or those interested in the fundamental biological processes underlying aging, may find this research relevant to future therapies.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are unrelated to cellular protein degradation pathways or stress responses may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a deeper understanding of how diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative conditions develop, potentially paving the way for new treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific mechanisms of proteasome assembly and relocation under stress are still being uncovered, other studies have shown the critical role of proteasome function in health and disease.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roelofs, Jeroen — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Roelofs, Jeroen
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.