Understanding how enzymes work at a detailed level
Official title: Time-Resolved and Multi-Temperature Structural Biology to Understand Dynamic Enzyme Catalysis
Funded at Baylor University · NIH-11158762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to understand how important proteins called enzymes change shape as they perform their jobs, which could help create better medicines for many diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $350,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM155320-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11158762 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with diseases caused by enzyme problems, or those who might benefit from new drug therapies, could eventually benefit from the knowledge gained from this fundamental research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose conditions are not related to enzyme function or drug interactions may not directly benefit from this specific area of foundational research.
What this research studies
Enzymes are vital proteins in our bodies that carry out all chemical reactions, and when they don't work right, it can lead to many illnesses. Medicines often work by turning these enzymes on or off. This work uses advanced imaging techniques to watch enzymes in action, capturing their structure as they perform their chemical tasks. By seeing how enzymes change shape during these reactions, we can learn more about how they function. This deeper understanding could lead to designing more effective drugs and therapies in the future.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to the development of more precise and effective drugs by providing a clearer picture of how enzymes interact with medicines.
How similar studies have gone: While structural biology and kinetics are established fields, combining time-resolved structural biology with multi-temperature analysis to capture enzyme dynamics during catalysis is a cutting-edge approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor University
Waco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Clinger, Jonathan — Baylor University
- Study coordinator: Clinger, Jonathan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Waixenicin A-based therapy for newborn brain injury
A new drug-target approach aims to protect babies’ brains after oxygen deprivation at birth.
-
HOPE-inG: Increasing cervical cancer screening for women with HIV in Ghana
A study tests a home-based HPV self-sampling approach plus a tailored communication plan to help women living with HIV in Ghana get screened more often for cervical cancer.
-
Genetic, Social, and Environmental Factors Shaping Early Cannabis Use in Youth
A study with young people will look at how genes, surroundings, and behavior come together to predict who might start using cannabis early and how to prevent it.
-
Understanding how MCM8/9 helps fix DNA replication when it stalls in cancer
A study in cancer biology scientists are exploring how the MCM8/9 proteins help protect and repair DNA during cell division, which could reveal new ways to combat cancer and aging.
-
Satellite cells help kids' muscles grow during cancer treatment
A pediatric cancer research grant tests if boosting muscle stem cells can prevent growth delays caused by standard chemotherapy in children.
-
Indole compounds from gut bacteria to help gut health and fight harmful bacteria
A family of tiny gut bugs may produce indole chemicals that help the gut barrier and reduce a harmful bacteria called Fusobacterium nucleatum, potentially lowering oral and colorectal disease risk.
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.