Understanding how proteins change shape to work
Official title: Exploiting temperature-sensitive orthologs to understand protein allostery
Funded at University of California, Merced · NIH-11128584 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how tiny shape changes in important proteins, like those involved in many diseases, affect their function, which could help us find new ways to develop medicines.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, Merced NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Merced, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $375,957 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150936-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128584 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This foundational laboratory research does not directly involve patient participation, but its findings could eventually inform treatments for many conditions related to protein function.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate treatment options or direct clinical intervention would not benefit from participating in this basic science project.
What this research studies
Our bodies rely on proteins, like enzymes, to perform countless tasks, and their ability to change shape is key to how they work. This project uses advanced X-ray technology and temperature changes to see these tiny, rapid shape shifts in important proteins, such as those found in kinases, proteases, and chaperones. By understanding these movements, we hope to uncover hidden areas on proteins that could be targeted by new drugs. This foundational work aims to reveal new insights into how proteins function and how we might control them.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this fundamental understanding of protein function could lead to the discovery of new drug targets and more effective medicines for various diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While the general approach of studying protein structure is established, this project develops and applies new, advanced structural measurement techniques to explore protein dynamics in unprecedented detail.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, Merced
Merced, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thompson, Michael C. — University of California, Merced
- Study coordinator: Thompson, Michael C.
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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.