Understanding telomere and telomerase structure
Structural biology of telomerase and telomeres
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · NIH-11322040
Researchers are mapping the shapes and interactions of telomerase and telomeres to help people with telomere-related conditions like Coats plus syndrome.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11322040 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you or a family member has a telomere disorder, this work is looking at the molecular pieces that protect and copy chromosome ends. Scientists use high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy and NMR together with lab biochemistry to reveal how telomerase and its partner proteins assemble and work. The team compares human proteins with simpler model systems to clarify how the G-strand and C-strand at telomeres are made. These details may explain how certain mutations lead to diseases such as Coats plus and related bone marrow or aging-related conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with known telomere-related genetic disorders (for example Coats plus syndrome or telomere-related aplastic anemia) or individuals willing to donate blood or tissue samples for telomere research would be most relevant.
Not a fit: Patients with conditions unrelated to telomere biology or those seeking immediate clinical treatment are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this basic laboratory-focused work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Greater structural knowledge could point to new targets for therapies or improve genetic diagnosis and risk understanding for telomere-related diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Recent cryoEM and biochemical studies have produced important structures of telomerase components, so this work builds on promising structural findings while tackling still-unclear mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES — LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FEIGON, JULI — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- Study coordinator: FEIGON, JULI
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.
Conditions: Coats plus disease, Coats plus syndrome, Cole syndrome, Cole-Rauschkolb-Toomey syndrome