# Structural analysis and therapeutic nanobody development of KSHV G-protein coupled receptor

> **NIH NIH R01** · CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU · 2020 · $490,912

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Despite being a pressing human health problem, very little has been done thus far to develop specific
therapeutics against Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) infection and its associated
diseases. Interestingly, the KSHV genome carries a viral homolog of cellular G-protein coupled
receptor (GPCR). As essential mediators of cell signaling, GPCRs are involved in nearly all aspects
of human biology. Their clinical relevance is thus underscored by the fact that 30-40% of all FDA
approved drugs target GPCRs. The KSHV GPCR (vGPCR) is essential for virus-mediated
oncogenesis: its expression is sufficient to transform cells in vitro and induce tumor formation in vivo.
The fact that vGPCR plays a key role in KSHV oncogenesis and that it is a member of protein family
frequently targeted by FDA-approved drugs makes vGPCR a promising target for therapeutic
intervention. We will use biochemical methods and signaling assays to understand structural insight
of vGPCR and to develop novel therapeutic nanobodies for inhibiting the oncogenic function of
vGPCR.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10030628
- **Project number:** 1R01CA251275-01
- **Recipient organization:** CLEVELAND CLINIC LERNER COM-CWRU
- **Principal Investigator:** Jae U Jung
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $490,912
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-04 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10030628

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10030628, Structural analysis and therapeutic nanobody development of KSHV G-protein coupled receptor (1R01CA251275-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10030628. Licensed CC0.

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