Breaching membrane barriers. This project will endeavour to develop novel molecular transporters to deliver macromolecules inside cells or microorganisms. Cell membranes are barriers to macromolecules. The ability to cross these barriers and deliver biological macromolecules into cells represents a major achievement with endless opportunities to modulate pathways and to introduce biomarkers, therapeutics and research tools. The project’s novel platform technology would be based on stable cyclic ....Breaching membrane barriers. This project will endeavour to develop novel molecular transporters to deliver macromolecules inside cells or microorganisms. Cell membranes are barriers to macromolecules. The ability to cross these barriers and deliver biological macromolecules into cells represents a major achievement with endless opportunities to modulate pathways and to introduce biomarkers, therapeutics and research tools. The project’s novel platform technology would be based on stable cyclic peptides to deliver genes, proteins, probes or biomarkers into distinct cell types that can monitor or modulate specific pathways and be translated into new knowledge and specific industrial applications.Read moreRead less
Heparan sulphate mimetics: Versatile tools for chemical biology. This project aims to develop chemical tools to study heparan sulphate-binding proteins. Heparan sulphate is a complex polysaccharide that is ubiquitously expressed on mammalian cells and interacts with proteins to mediate numerous biological and pathological functions. These interactions are poorly understood. This project will use homogeneous, structurally defined compounds to study heparan sulphate and its binding partners in bio ....Heparan sulphate mimetics: Versatile tools for chemical biology. This project aims to develop chemical tools to study heparan sulphate-binding proteins. Heparan sulphate is a complex polysaccharide that is ubiquitously expressed on mammalian cells and interacts with proteins to mediate numerous biological and pathological functions. These interactions are poorly understood. This project will use homogeneous, structurally defined compounds to study heparan sulphate and its binding partners in biology. This is expected to lead to a better, molecular-level understanding of these fundamental processes, and may have future applications in biotechnology and drug development.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100192
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
Deep Protein Sequencing, Structure and Quantification Facility. This project aims to establish state-of-the-art complementary mass spectrometers to help research into molecular structure and interactions, post-translational modifications, compound stability and availability within complex biological samples. The facility’s complementary mass spectrometers combine high specificity with high sensitivity and ultrafast scanning, and are expected to rapidly discover, identify and characterise biomole ....Deep Protein Sequencing, Structure and Quantification Facility. This project aims to establish state-of-the-art complementary mass spectrometers to help research into molecular structure and interactions, post-translational modifications, compound stability and availability within complex biological samples. The facility’s complementary mass spectrometers combine high specificity with high sensitivity and ultrafast scanning, and are expected to rapidly discover, identify and characterise biomolecules including peptides, proteins and small molecules. The discovery of unknown compounds is expected to improve fundamental understanding of molecular structure and function, provide opportunities for new bio-industries in health and the environment, and generate commercial opportunities through spin-off companies, patents and licensing.Read moreRead less
From Chemical Architecture to Protein Surfaces. Creation of small stable molecules that reproduce key functions of important protein surfaces, would be a significant technology breakthrough with many important potential applications in science, medicine & industry. As new scientific tools they could be used to interrogate biological systems & implicate specific protein surfaces in biological/disease mechanisms. As leads to new medicines (pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostics), they could offer ....From Chemical Architecture to Protein Surfaces. Creation of small stable molecules that reproduce key functions of important protein surfaces, would be a significant technology breakthrough with many important potential applications in science, medicine & industry. As new scientific tools they could be used to interrogate biological systems & implicate specific protein surfaces in biological/disease mechanisms. As leads to new medicines (pharmaceuticals, vaccines, diagnostics), they could offer new ways of impacting on infection, diseases of the aged, & preventative medicine (National Research Priorities). As new intellectual property, the technology has the potential to advance basic science at the chemistry-biology interface while providing new economic opportunities for Australia.Read moreRead less
Australian Sea Anemone Venoms: Bioprospecting & Evolution. Australian sea anemones are a highly promising and largely unexplored source of peptides and proteins with potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This project aims to evaluate this potential by undertaking transcriptomic analyses of a number species of anemones from Australian waters and identifying peptides and proteins in their venoms by mass spectrometry. It will also demonstrate the value of transcriptomics in informing t ....Australian Sea Anemone Venoms: Bioprospecting & Evolution. Australian sea anemones are a highly promising and largely unexplored source of peptides and proteins with potential therapeutic and diagnostic applications. This project aims to evaluate this potential by undertaking transcriptomic analyses of a number species of anemones from Australian waters and identifying peptides and proteins in their venoms by mass spectrometry. It will also demonstrate the value of transcriptomics in informing taxonomic classification of anemones. In addition this project will assess toxin diversity within and between species based on nematocyst function from specific tissue sources and provide a clearer understanding of the evolution of venoms in Australian Actiniaria.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100015
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$630,000.00
Summary
High-resolution and high-throughput Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) facility. This facility will provide researchers at James Cook University and The University of Queensland with a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscope with a cryogenically cooled probe which will enable the structures of novel biomolecules from spiders, hookworms, plants and synthetic drugs to be revealed. These studies have the potential to lead to new drugs for cancer, pain, inflammatory and tropical diseases.
Development of a multicomponent delivery system for oligonucleotides. Gene therapy has the ability to prevent faulty genes from causing disease, however the ability to deliver genetic material into specific cells remains a major barrier. Our research will overcome this hurdle by generating systems that are superior to existing technologies.
The mechanism of membrane disruption by antimicrobial peptides. Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is a growing crisis in modern medicine. Antibacterial peptides from Australian frogs represent a new class of potent and selective antibacterial agents. Understanding how these peptides kill bacteria but not vertebrate cells could lead to the design of new drugs for pharmaceutical and/or clinical purposes.
Plant peptides as modulators of invertebrate neurohormone receptors. Naturally-occurring peptides are widely distributed in many plants, but their biological role is often unclear. Circular plant peptides (called cyclotides) that share similarities with the neuropeptide oxytocin, and acts on its receptor, have been previously isolated. This signalling system is important for reproduction, development, and behaviour as well as water homeostasis. To elucidate the natural function of cyclotides. Th ....Plant peptides as modulators of invertebrate neurohormone receptors. Naturally-occurring peptides are widely distributed in many plants, but their biological role is often unclear. Circular plant peptides (called cyclotides) that share similarities with the neuropeptide oxytocin, and acts on its receptor, have been previously isolated. This signalling system is important for reproduction, development, and behaviour as well as water homeostasis. To elucidate the natural function of cyclotides. This project aims to characterise the pharmacological properties and biological effects of invertebrate receptors and their modulation by cyclotides. The notion that plants produce molecules to target invertebrate receptors is extremely appealing and will enhance knowledge about fundamental biological processes of plant-animal ecology.Read moreRead less
Development of disulphide-rich peptides for drug design. Peptides are an outstanding source of potential drug leads. This project seeks to build on earlier breakthroughs by developing stable, peptide-based drugs to combat cancer and autoimmune diseases. The peptides, derived from natural sources, are anticipated to provide drug leads that can ultimately lead to treatments for these diseases.