# Regulation of chemotactic signaling

> **NIH NIH R35** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $50,744

## Abstract

Summary
Through the funding opportunity described in PAR-18-591, this proposal seeks funds to
purchase a real-time PCR system to analyze intracellular signaling mediated by TORC2 and
PTEN. The goals of the grant are to investigate how cells sense extracellular chemical gradients
and control their migration behaviors. First, we will determine how phosphorylated, GDP-bound
RacE activates TORC2 to facilitate AKT phosphorylation at the leading end of migrating cells
while GTP-bound RacE inhibits TORC2 at the trailing end. This will involve multiple
experimental approaches, including cellular reconstitution using knockout cell lines, biochemical
reconstitution of RacE-regulated TORC2 activity with purified proteins, protein interaction
analyses at the single-molecule level in vitro, live imaging of cells, and structural analysis using
X-ray crystallography. Second, we will decipher a key mechanism controlling human PTEN
localization at the plasma membrane and nucleus. Third, we will determine the effects of the
manipulation of PTEN localization on tumorigenesis in vivo using animal models.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10134691
- **Project number:** 3R35GM131768-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Miho Iijima
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $50,744
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-06-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10134691

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10134691, Regulation of chemotactic signaling (3R35GM131768-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10134691. Licensed CC0.

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