Understanding how stress affects protein processing in cells

Characterizing Stress-dependent Secretory Protein Mistargeting

NIH-funded research University of California Riverside · NIH-11031997

This study is looking at how cells deal with proteins that don't fold correctly when they're under stress, to help understand what triggers this process and how it affects cell health, which could be helpful for anyone interested in cell function and diseases related to protein misfolding.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California Riverside NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Riverside, United States)
Project IDNIH-11031997 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how cells manage the processing of proteins under stress conditions, particularly focusing on a mechanism called preemptive quality control (preQC). When proteins misfold, this mechanism helps prevent an overload in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by halting the movement of these proteins. However, this can lead to harmful protein accumulation in the cytosol, which may cause cell death and dysfunction. The study aims to identify the types of stress that trigger preQC and the factors that influence how mistargeted proteins are handled within the cell, using advanced assays in living cells.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions associated with protein misfolding, such as diabetes or neurodegenerative diseases.

Not a fit: Patients without any conditions related to protein misfolding or those who are not experiencing cellular stress may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for treating diseases related to protein misfolding, such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders.

How similar studies have performed: While the specific approach of this research is novel, there have been successful studies exploring protein misfolding and cellular stress responses in other contexts.

Where this research is happening

Riverside, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.