Understanding how stress affects protein processing in cells
Official title: Characterizing Stress-dependent Secretory Protein Mistargeting
Funded at University of California Riverside · NIH-11031997 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Riverside NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Riverside, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $278,522 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM134125-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11031997 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions associated with protein misfolding, such as diabetes or neurodegenerative diseases.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without any conditions related to protein misfolding or those who are not experiencing cellular stress may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of California Riverside
Riverside, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Genereux, Joseph — University of California Riverside
- Study coordinator: Genereux, Joseph
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Cellular programming by plant signaling in cancer and other diseases
Scientists are studying how plant cell signals control gene activity in the nucleus and mitochondria to understand faulty regulation that can occur in cancers and other disorders.
-
Caveolin-1 helps brain vessels stay healthy after juvenile concussion
A study in kids and young adults looks at how a protein called Caveolin-1 affects brain blood vessels after a mild concussion and whether targeting it could protect long-term brain health.
-
How tiny cell antennae control signals linked to birth defects and cancer
Researchers are looking for new proteins in cells' tiny antennae that control signals involved in certain birth defects and cancers to point toward future treatments.
-
New ways to make natural compounds that could fight cancer, Alzheimer's, and inflammation
A scientist team will make and test natural-looking molecules to see if they can block proteins linked to cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and inflammatory conditions.
-
Promoting Coping Skills to Reduce Health Gaps in Teens and Young Adults
A study tests a shift-and-persist coping approach to help racial/ethnic minority teens and young adults handle stress and reduce risks for chronic disease.
-
Laser particle barcoding to track live cells and their omics in breast cancer
A new technique uses special laser-coded particles to follow individual breast cancer cells in real time while linking their live behavior to multi-omics data.
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.