# Investigating the Structure and Regulation of PFK

> **NIH NIH F32** · UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON · 2024 · $76,756

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Phosphofructokinase (PFK) is an essential node governing the flux of glucose through glycolysis. It catalyzes
the rate limiting step of glycolysis, converting fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. Dysfunction of
PFK is associated with many diseases including cancer, glycogen storage diseases, heart disease, and many
others. As befitting of its role as the gatekeeper of glycolysis, the activity of PFK is tightly regulated. In humans,
there are three PFK isoforms: liver (PFKL), platelet (PFKP), and muscle (PFKM), each with unique regulatory
properties. Our understanding of these regulatory properties is not complete, mainly because isoform-specific
structural information is lacking. Understanding PFK regulation is useful in the design of therapeutics and tools
for research. The proposed research will use cryo-EM, mutagenesis, in vitro kinetic assays, biophysical assays,
and cell-based assays to better define three aspects of isoform-specific PFK regulation. Firstly, PFKM is unique
due to its non-canonical response to pH and ATP. The biophysical basis for the regulation by ATP and pH in
PFKM will be assessed using cryo-EM, mutagenesis, and in vitro kinetics assays. Secondly, as structural infor-
mation on eukaryotic PFK emerges, differences in the active and inactive conformations have been identified.
Specifically, in PFK, the flexible C-terminal tail has been shown to become ordered upon PFK inactivation and
loss of the C-terminal tail in PFKL results in altered response to regulation by PFK. The proposed research will
define the role of the flexible C-terminal tail in the regulation of each PFK isoform using mutagenesis and kinetic
assays. Finally, PFKL has been demonstrated to oligomerize into filaments. It is hypothesized that PFKM can
also oligomerize into filaments. The proposed research will identify PFKM filaments in cells, structurally charac-
terize the filament, and define the role of filaments in PFKM regulation. The goal of this research is to better
define mechanisms of PFK regulation. The applicant’s long-term goals involve using cryo-EM and cell-based
assays as an independent researcher. This fellowship will help to prepare the applicant for a productive career
as an independent researcher using cryo-EM and cell-based assays to study important biological questions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10899387
- **Project number:** 1F32GM154453-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Lauren Salay
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $76,756
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-16 → 2027-08-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10899387

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10899387, Investigating the Structure and Regulation of PFK (1F32GM154453-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10899387. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*