Targeted mass spectrometry approaches to understand CART processing and receptor interactions

 This project is a fundamental study examining the molecular-level processing and receptor interactions of cell-cell signaling peptides produced from the cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART). CART plays important roles in glucose regulation and incretin secretion and may serve as a novel target for several diseases, including type 2 diabetes. However, progress in pursuing CART peptide signaling as a therapeutic target has been limited due to: 1) the lack of rigorous evaluation of the processing of CART peptide processing; and 2) no receptor for CART peptides has been identified in any tissue. This project develops a combination of novel mass spectrometry and chemical biology approaches to fully characterize the molecular processing of these peptides and to identify their receptor. Ultimately, this research will reveal critical information about cell-cell signaling across tissues, and may reveal new targets for the treatment of disease.

 Learn more about Dr. Checco’s research and lab at: http://chemweb.unl.edu/checco/