Understanding how ubiquitination and its undoing affect brain health
Official title: Protein ubiquitination and deubiquitination in neurological disorders
Funded at Georgia State University · NIH-11384258 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how the system that adds and removes ubiquitin proteins in brain cells influences neurological disorders, with a focus on how these processes relate to conditions like Gordon Holmes syndrome and dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $407,352 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS136464-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384258 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Anyone affected by or at risk for neurological disorders tied to ubiquitination dysfunction may benefit from future therapies stemming from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not guaranteed, as this is basic mechanistic research; participants would not be recruited for this study as described.
What this research studies
This project will explore the enzymes that attach ubiquitin to proteins and the enzymes that remove it, aiming to map how these processes work in the nervous system beyond disease states. Using proteomics, the team will investigate substrates of the E3 ligase RNF216 and its interaction with the DUB OTUD4, including how mutations seen in Gordon Holmes syndrome alter ubiquitination. The work seeks to understand the dynamic balance of ubiquitination and deubiquitination in neurons and its impact on neurodegenerative conditions. Findings could illuminate new molecular pathways involved in brain aging and disease, potentially guiding future therapies. The study is based at Georgia State University and involves state-of-the-art biochemical and proteomic approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of brain protein regulation could lead to new targets for diagnosing or treating certain neurological disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work has linked abnormal ubiquitination to neurodegenerative diseases, showing that this pathway can be relevant to brain health, though the exact mechanisms are still being elucidated.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia State University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mabb, Angela M — Georgia State University
- Study coordinator: Mabb, Angela M
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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.