Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Tennessee received a $406,112 Project Grant award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859), effective March 5, 2026 through February 28, 2031. The award funds pioneering research to develop and advance mass spectrometry (MS)-based footprinting techniques designed to reveal the higher-order structure and functional properties of human integral membrane proteins (IMPs) in their native cellular and tissue environments. The research addresses a critical gap in structural biology by enabling the study of IMPs under physiological conditions without the use of detergents that disrupt native protein conformations, thereby providing more accurate structural information to guide drug development for the 60% of FDA-approved drugs that target membrane proteins.

The primary deliverable is the design and improvement of novel MS-based footprinting methodologies that overcome current technical challenges, including low reactivity of transmembrane domains and inefficient footprinting efficiency in membrane environments. The research will characterize structural information regarding protein dynamics, conformations, ligand interactions, solvent accessibility, and conformational changes that occur in native membranes and tissues. By establishing these innovative analytical approaches, the project will provide the biomedical research community with practical tools to better understand membrane protein structure-function relationships and facilitate more effective drug discovery and development targeting this important protein class.