Understanding Selenoproteins and Their Role in Diseases
Signaling, Sensing, and Enzymatic Roles of Disordered Selenoproteins
This research looks at how special proteins called selenoproteins K and S work in our cells and how they might be connected to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Delaware NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146364 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Selenoproteins K and S are important for how our cells handle stress and other processes like protein quality control and immune response. Changes in these proteins are linked to higher risks for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, and they can also affect cancer prognosis. Scientists believe these selenoproteins might act as "switches" in the cell's control center (the nucleus) to turn genes on or off, or as "sensors" in the cell's factory (the ER) to detect problems with other proteins. This project aims to discover how these proteins move to the nucleus and interact with our DNA, and how they sense misfolded proteins in the ER. By understanding these roles, we hope to connect their various functions and learn more about their impact on health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients living with or at risk for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or cancer may eventually benefit from the insights gained from this fundamental research.
Not a fit: Patients whose conditions are not related to cellular stress responses or the specific functions of selenoproteins K and S may not directly benefit from this particular research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to understand and potentially treat conditions like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer by targeting these important selenoproteins.
How similar studies have performed: While previous work has hinted at the broad roles of selenoproteins, this project explores a novel hypothesis about their direct involvement in gene transcription and protein sensing.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- University of Delaware — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rozovsky, Sharon — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Rozovsky, Sharon
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.