# Mechanistic studies of essential membrane transporters

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2024 · $346,711

## Abstract

Membrane transporters are essential for cellular life and are generally understudied compared to other
membrane proteins, such as GPCR and ion channels. The long-term goal is to pursue a fundamental mechanistic
understanding of membrane transporters closely related to human diseases. In this proposal, the overall
objective is to extend our previous research on members of human SLC and bacterial siderophore ABC importers.
The rationale is that, with detailed knowledge about the structure-function relationship of these membrane
transporters, it will be possible to design small molecules explicitly targeting them to have physiological effects.
To accomplish the goal, we expect to pursue the following three projects: 1) understanding the substrate
selectivity and promiscuity; 2) probing the connection between transporters’ unique structural features and their
function; and 3) searching for small molecule inhibitors/activators of the transporters. The approach involved in
this proposal is multidisciplinary, including biochemistry, structural biology, microbiology, cell biology, molecular
dynamics simulation, and various methodologies of biophysics. This proposal is significant because it is expected
to reveal the basic molecular mechanisms of essential membrane transporters and provide scientific justification
for further development of drugs targeting these transporters.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10763764
- **Project number:** 1R35GM151970-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Hongjin Zheng
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $346,711
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10763764

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10763764, Mechanistic studies of essential membrane transporters (1R35GM151970-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10763764. Licensed CC0.

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