Understanding how proteins behave in crowded cell environments
Official title: Phase behavior of proteins in crowded environments
Funded at Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge · NIH-10874832 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how proteins work together in the busy environment of our cells, which is important for understanding how our bodies function and how age-related diseases develop. By using different substances to mimic crowding in cells, researchers want to learn more about how proteins behave and interact, which could help us understand diseases better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baton Rouge, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $441,108 |
| NIH project number | 1R15GM154243-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10874832 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with age-related disorders or conditions that involve cellular dysfunction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute conditions unrelated to cellular processes or those not experiencing age-related disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how proteins interact and behave in the crowded environments of living cells, which is crucial for understanding various cellular processes and age-related disorders. By using different molecules as crowding agents, researchers aim to study the phase separation of proteins and how these interactions affect their functions. The goal is to uncover the mechanisms behind protein behavior in these complex environments, which could lead to insights into disease progression and cellular function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of cellular processes and potentially lead to new treatments for age-related disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding protein behavior in crowded environments, indicating that this approach has potential for significant findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Amy — Louisiana State Univ A&m Col Baton Rouge
- Study coordinator: Xu, Amy
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Bilateral auditory integration and its role in auditory disorders
A study to understand how both ears work together to localize and organize sounds, which could help people with central auditory processing issues.
-
Host glutamine metabolism in tuberculosis pathogenesis
A study tests a drug that blocks host glutamine use to help fight tuberculosis by improving immune cells’ ability to kill the bacteria.
-
Ras signaling and regulatory T cells to treat allergic airway inflammation
A small, patient-friendly study will explore how Ras signaling affects a type of immune cell that helps control allergic inflammation in the airways of people with allergic asthma.
-
Bacterial genome sequencing to boost AMR detection in veterinary-lab networks
A veterinary and public-health project to expand bacterial whole-genome sequencing so labs can quickly identify antibiotic resistance and control outbreaks.
-
Microbes and the body's hormonal signals in a tiny worm
This grant looks at how gut microbes affect hormonal signals that control metabolism, using a tiny worm to model how this could influence type 2 diabetes and related heart and kidney issues.
-
Leptin and fat cells: how obesity may worsen lung infections like COVID-19 and flu
A study explores how fat tissue and the leptin pathway might change the body's first lung defenses during respiratory infections in people who are obese or have diabetes.
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.