# Illuminating Galectin-3 Interactions to Disrupt Hepatic Fibrosis

> **NIH NIH R56** · SCRIPPS FLORIDA · 2021 · $66,421

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Human liver fibrosis is intimately controlled by noncovalent interactions between Galectin-3 and unknown cell
surface glycoproteins on hepatic stellate cells. Here, we seek to develop methodologies to identify these
functional glycoproteins. However, glycosylation is a post-translational modification that results in the
construction of highly complex and heterogeneous glycan molecules whose structures are challenging to predict
based on the genetic code alone. Despite significant advances in glycoscience, achieving selective control over
biological events mediated by glycans and GBPs remains a significant obstacle. At the heart of this problem is
the limited resolution with which protein-glycan interactions are analyzed. Glycans are largely displayed as
conjugates with proteins, and such protein-glycoprotein interactions provide context for the ensuing biological
process. In this application, we propose approaches to identify the interactions between Galectin-3 and
glycoproteins in liver stellate cells, and to catalogue the functional consequences resulting from these binding
events in the context of human physiology, development, and disease. These approaches integrate techniques
in quantitative mass spectrometry, genetics, and glycomics. This work provides novel solutions to a key problem
in glycoscience and will open new opportunities for the exploration of glycans for applications in drug discovery
and biomedicine.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10416673
- **Project number:** 1R56DK126895-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** SCRIPPS FLORIDA
- **Principal Investigator:** Mia L Huang
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $66,421
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-08-01 → 2022-01-02

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10416673

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10416673, Illuminating Galectin-3 Interactions to Disrupt Hepatic Fibrosis (1R56DK126895-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10416673. Licensed CC0.

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