Understanding how kinesin motors work in human cells
Official title: Function and regulation of kinesin motors in cells
Funded at University of Tennessee Knoxville · NIH-11395554 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how motor proteins called kinesins move cargo inside cells and how this affects cell function and health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Tennessee Knoxville NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Knoxville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $372,047 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM147641-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395554 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients with ciliopathies or related disorders where ciliary transport is affected, or those contributing patient-derived cells for comparison.
✕Less likely to help
If a patient’s condition is not linked to ciliopathy mechanisms or motor regulation, direct benefits may be limited.
What this research studies
This project looks at the rules that control kinesin motors, especially kinesin-2 (KIF3A/KIF3B/KAP), and how they organize transport inside cilia and other cellular compartments. By examining these motors in cells, scientists aim to reveal how disruptions could contribute to diseases involving cilia and cellular transport. The work combines cellular biology techniques to map motor behavior, regulation, and interaction with cargo in a living cell context. Findings could illuminate mechanisms behind ciliopathies and related conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gaining a better understanding of motor protein regulation could inform future therapies for diseases linked to ciliary dysfunction and intracellular transport.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that kinesin-2 is essential for intraflagellar transport and ciliary function, suggesting this line of research could confirm and extend those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Knoxville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Engelke, Martin F. — University of Tennessee Knoxville
- Study coordinator: Engelke, Martin F.
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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.