Understanding How Proteins Control Gene Activity
The Role of DEAD-box Proteins in Gene Expression
This project aims to understand how certain proteins called RNA helicases control gene activity, which could help us learn more about diseases like cancer and neurological disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11012807 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies rely on special proteins called RNA helicases to manage how our genes work, from making new genetic instructions to breaking them down. While we know these proteins are crucial, we don't fully understand what many of them do. This work builds on previous findings that identified how one type of RNA helicase helps control gene expression in both yeast and human cells. We are exploring how these proteins remodel RNA structures and how this process might be linked to diseases like cancer and neurological conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients with neurological disorders or cancer, or those interested in the basic biological mechanisms underlying these conditions, may find this foundational research relevant to future treatments.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate new treatments or direct clinical interventions would not directly benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide fundamental insights into how gene expression is regulated, potentially leading to new ways to understand and treat neurological disorders and cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work by this team has already identified key functions of these proteins in gene expression, and the current work builds upon these novel discoveries.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tran, Elizabeth J — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Tran, Elizabeth J
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.