Understanding how cells sense nutrients like sulfur, important for health
Official title: Role of ROP GTPases in sulfate transceptor SULTR1;2-regulated sulfur nutrient sensing
Funded at Herbert H. Lehman College · NIH-11093556 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how living cells, including human cells, detect and respond to essential nutrients like sulfur, using plants as a model.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Herbert H. Lehman College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $146,077 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM145531-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11093556 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with conditions related to nutrient sensing or cell signaling, such as certain cancers, might eventually benefit from the knowledge gained from this basic research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical interventions would not directly benefit from this foundational plant-based research.
What this research studies
Our bodies, like plants, need to sense and use nutrients effectively. This project looks at how a special "transceptor" protein in plants helps them detect and transport sulfur, a vital nutrient. We aim to uncover the basic steps of how this nutrient signal is sent inside the cell to control gene activity. By understanding these fundamental processes in plants, we hope to gain insights into similar mechanisms that are important for human health, including conditions like cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new fundamental insights into how human cells sense nutrients, potentially leading to a better understanding of diseases like cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has identified the key sulfate transporter and revealed a conserved signaling model across different organisms, providing a strong foundation for this work.
Where this research is happening
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Herbert H. Lehman College
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zheng, Zhi-Liang — Herbert H. Lehman College
- Study coordinator: Zheng, Zhi-Liang
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.