Why membrane proteins like CFTR misfold and how cells handle them
Molecular Mechanisms of Membrane Protein Misfolding and Quality Control in Cellular Proteostasis
This work looks at how cells spot and manage misfolded membrane proteins such as CFTR to help people with cystic fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11330256 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one has cystic fibrosis, this research looks inside cells to learn how membrane proteins fold and how the cell's quality-control machines decide whether to fix or destroy them. Researchers at Purdue will use cell models, CRISPR gene editing, biochemical tests, and measurements of protein shape and location to study CFTR and related proteins. They will focus on chaperones like calnexin and on mutations that change how proteins sit in the membrane to see why some versions are misfolded or degraded. The details they uncover could guide new approaches to increase the amount of working CFTR in patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cystic fibrosis or known CFTR mutations who are interested in contributing samples or being considered for future therapies would be the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: Patients without CFTR-related conditions or those seeking immediate clinical treatments may not directly benefit from this basic laboratory research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to ways to boost the amount or function of faulty CFTR in people with cystic fibrosis, informing new treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has produced CFTR-correcting drugs and shown that folding and chaperone interactions matter, but this project takes a more detailed and mechanistic approach that is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
West Lafayette, United States
- Purdue University — West Lafayette, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schlebach, Jonathan Patrick — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Schlebach, Jonathan Patrick
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.