Understanding how cells take in nutrients and signals
Official title: Molecular mechanisms of endocytic initiation and cargo selection
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10932175 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how cells take in important nutrients and signals from their surroundings, focusing on a special protein complex called AP2 that helps decide what gets brought inside the cell, which could help us understand how cells work and respond to their environment better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $388,750 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150960-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10932175 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that involve disrupted cellular signaling or nutrient uptake, such as specific types of cancer.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to cellular endocytosis or those not affected by signaling pathways may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the early stages of clathrin-mediated endocytosis, a crucial process by which cells internalize nutrients and signals from their environment. The focus is on the AP2 clathrin adaptor complex, which plays a key role in selecting what gets internalized. By examining how AP2 interacts with various proteins and responds to regulatory signals, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms that control cargo selection during endocytosis. This understanding could provide insights into how cells maintain their functions and respond to external cues.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for targeting diseases related to cellular signaling and nutrient uptake, including certain cancers.
How similar studies have gone: While the mechanisms of later stages of endocytosis have been well-studied, this research explores relatively uncharted territory, making it a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Baker, Richard Wayne — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Baker, Richard Wayne
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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.