Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Indiana University (Trustees of Indiana University) received a $415,822 Project Grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective April 1, 2026 through February 28, 2031. The award supports fundamental basic research investigating oxidative protein folding mechanisms in bacteria, specifically examining how disulfide bonds (DSBs)—covalent linkages between cysteine residues—form and function in bacterial proteins. The research employs two model organisms, Escherichia coli and Mycobacterium smegmatis, to address three principal research questions: the principles enabling productive thiol oxidation when canonical DSB-forming enzymes are inactive; the identity of proteins dependent on DSBs in complex cell envelopes; and whether distinct thiol-disulfide oxidoreductases demonstrate substrate specificity.

The research program utilizes a multidisciplinary approach combining bacterial genetics, chemical genetics, and biochemistry to advance understanding of DSB formation mechanisms and reveal novel oxidation pathways. The work will characterize substrate recognition determinants among different oxidoreductase classes and elucidate how DSB-forming pathways function across diverse bacterial systems. Research activities are conducted at Indiana University's Bloomington, Indiana campus, with expected completion in February 2031.