Understanding the tiny motors that help our body's cilia move
Structural characterization of single, double and triple-headed axonemal dyneins
This project aims to understand how tiny motors called dyneins work inside the hair-like structures called cilia, which are important for fertility and fighting infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11110358 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Our bodies have tiny, hair-like structures called cilia that move to help us with important functions like fertility and clearing airways to prevent infections. This project focuses on understanding the "motors" inside these cilia, called axonemal dyneins, which power their movement. We plan to use advanced imaging techniques to look closely at the structure of these dynein motors. By studying these structures in detail, we hope to learn how they work and what happens when they don't function correctly. This knowledge could help us understand conditions related to problems with cilia movement.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation, but future studies building on this knowledge may seek patients with conditions related to ciliary dysfunction, such as certain types of infertility or chronic respiratory issues.
Not a fit: Patients currently seeking direct treatment for their conditions would not receive immediate benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a fundamental understanding of how cilia move, which is crucial for developing future treatments for conditions like infertility and recurrent airway infections.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific high-resolution structural details of all major axonemal dynein classes are largely unknown, cryo-EM has successfully revealed structures of other complex biological machines, suggesting this approach is promising.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brown, Alan — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Brown, Alan
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.