Understanding how proteins communicate signals in cells
Official title: Revealing signal transduction mechanisms through protein design
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10948722 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how proteins in cells notice changes in their surroundings and send messages to help the cell adjust, using specially designed bacterial proteins to learn more about how these signals work.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $118,904 |
| NIH project number | 1K99GM155611-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10948722 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions that involve disrupted cellular signaling pathways.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to cellular signaling mechanisms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms by which proteins in cells detect environmental changes and communicate signals to help the cell adapt. By designing and engineering proteins, the researchers aim to create simplified versions of these signaling proteins to better understand how they switch between different states. The approach involves using bacterial proteins as a model system to explore how changes in protein design affect their signaling behavior. This could lead to new insights into cellular communication and signaling pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of cellular signaling, potentially leading to new therapeutic strategies for diseases related to signaling dysfunction.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using protein engineering to understand signaling mechanisms, indicating that this approach has potential for meaningful discoveries.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hatstat, Anna Katherine — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Hatstat, Anna Katherine
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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.