Award
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 5R01DK132120-04
Developmental regulation of epithelial polarization by pre-mRNA splicing
Recipient
Duke University
Award Amount
$466,159.00
Ceiling
$466,159.00
Awarded
January 27, 2026
Identifier
5R01DK132120-04
This NIH research grant supports a project at Duke University to study genetic and cellular mechanisms of intestinal epithelial cell polarization and apical endocytosis, aiming to understand related diseases such as cancer and malabsorption disorders.
Description
The project aims to uncover genetic and cellular mechanisms controlling the maturation of apical membrane polarization and apical endocytosis during vertebrate intestinal development. It seeks to understand the origins of diseases related to impaired absorption and cell polarity defects, such as cancer, nutrient malabsorption, and congenital diarrheal disorders. The research involves forward genetics screening in zebrafish to identify factors involved in apical membrane protein sorting and the regulation of apical endocytosis, with preliminary findings indicating pH-dependent mechanisms and roles for pre-mRNA intron splicing.