Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation's Division of Chemistry, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), awarded $830,581 to Dr. Steven Clarke at the University of California, Los Angeles for a three-year project (February 1, 2026–January 31, 2029) investigating protein arginine methylation and its coordination with other posttranslational modifications. The research focuses on characterizing the role of protein arginine methyltransferase 7 (PRMT7), an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of methyl groups to arginine residues in specific R-X-R sequences, particularly under physiological stress conditions. This fundamental chemistry research aims to define how arginine methylation works in concert with other covalent protein modifications to regulate gene expression and enhance organismal resilience and survival.

Beyond the primary research objective, the project delivers significant educational and workforce development services by providing comprehensive training to undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral scholars in cellular chemical processes and protein modification mechanisms. The award includes structured outreach activities designed to prepare the next generation of researchers, particularly targeting young Americans for careers in fundamental cellular chemistry research. The project addresses a substantial knowledge gap in understanding PRMT7 activity and its biological functions, contributing to the advancement of basic scientific knowledge within the mathematical and physical sciences domain.