Understanding how proteins are managed in the body to prevent diseases like Alzheimer's
Conserved regulation of proteostasis by post-translational protein AMPylation
This project explores how a natural process called protein AMPylation helps manage proteins in our bodies, which could lead to new ways to treat diseases where proteins clump together, like Alzheimer's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146660 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies have a natural way of keeping proteins healthy and preventing them from clumping together, a process called proteostasis. This project looks closely at a specific part of this process, called protein AMPylation, which acts like a control switch for how proteins behave. We want to understand exactly how this switch works in healthy bodies and what goes wrong in conditions where proteins misfold and aggregate, such as in Alzheimer's disease. By learning more about these natural controls, we hope to find new targets for medicines that could prevent or treat these challenging diseases. We are using advanced genetic and biochemical methods, including studies in a small worm called C. elegans, to uncover these important details.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation but aims to benefit individuals with protein aggregation-associated diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease in the future.
Not a fit: Patients without protein aggregation-associated diseases would not directly benefit from this specific foundational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapeutic strategies that target protein AMPylation to prevent or treat protein aggregation-associated diseases like Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have performed: While the role of protein AMPylation in proteostasis is increasingly recognized, its detailed regulation and specific roles in disease are still being uncovered, making this a novel area of investigation.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Truttmann, Matthias Christof — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Truttmann, Matthias Christof
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.