Understanding how temperature affects enzyme function and regulation
Official title: Exploiting temperature-sensitive orthologs to understand protein allostery
Funded at University of California, Merced · NIH-10895512 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how changes in temperature affect enzymes, which are important for many processes in our bodies, to help scientists find better ways to create drugs that work more effectively for patients.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $375,957 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM150936-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10895512 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include individuals with conditions related to enzyme dysfunction or those who may respond to targeted therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions unrelated to enzyme activity or those who do not require targeted drug therapies may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between the structure and function of enzymes by examining how temperature changes influence their behavior. By using advanced techniques like temperature-sensitive X-ray crystallography, the team aims to uncover how different conformational states of enzymes affect their catalytic activity. This could lead to new insights into allosteric regulation, which is crucial for drug discovery and understanding various biological processes. Patients may benefit from improved drug targeting strategies that arise from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective drugs that target specific enzyme functions, improving treatment options for various diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in using structural biology approaches to understand enzyme function, indicating that this methodology has potential for impactful discoveries.
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.