# Targeting Membrane Transport Steps in Cell Envelope Assembly

> **NIH NIH R01** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $726,665

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Infections due to Gram-negative bacteria and mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) pose a serious threat to human
health. These organisms produce especially complex cell envelopes consisting of a double layer of membranes
that are essential for survival. This cell envelope also functions as a physical barrier to block entry of many
classes of antibiotics and thereby render them ineffective. This research is directed towards understanding the
structure and function of three protein transporters responsible for cell envelope assembly. Each of these
transporters represents one of the three major transporter families, namely ABC transporters, MOPS
transporters, and RND transporters. To understand how these transporters move their complex glycolipid cargo,
biochemical and structural studies will be undertaken. Intermediates and inhibitors of transport and assembly of
will be characterized structurally, biochemically, and in cells. A better understanding of these proteins’ roles in
cell envelope assembly will lead to new therapies to treat resistant infections.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10824312
- **Project number:** 5R01AI153358-05
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Daniel Kahne
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $726,665
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-05-21 → 2025-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10824312

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10824312, Targeting Membrane Transport Steps in Cell Envelope Assembly (5R01AI153358-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10824312. Licensed CC0.

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