Unlocking natural products by exploring biosynthetic enzymes
Official title: Investigating biosynthetic enzymes to enhance natural product discovery
Funded at University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa · NIH-11330160 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Scientists are studying how natural compounds are built in nature to discover new medicines faster.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tuscaloosa, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $359,659 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM151137-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11330160 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals with interest in participating in future translational studies stemming from natural product drug discovery or related collaborations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients seeking immediate clinical treatments unrelated to natural product discovery may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project is about finding new natural product compounds by looking at the genes and enzymes that make them. Researchers will use genome mining to connect biosynthetic gene clusters with their chemical products, especially focusing on glycosyltransferases to uncover novel, bioactive molecules. The work aims to reveal the enzymes and steps involved in creating these compounds, which could guide future drug discovery efforts. The grant proposes a two-pronged approach: identify new BGCs linked to glycosylated natural products and characterize the activities of the responsible enzymes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may benefit from new drug candidates derived from previously undiscovered natural products.
How similar studies have gone: Past genome mining strategies have identified many new gene clusters, with several leading to novel compounds and drug leads.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Higgins, Melanie Ann — University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa
- Study coordinator: Higgins, Melanie Ann
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.