Dual-targeting of proteins and its role in coordinating organelle functions in plants. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia's future will be built on understanding and manipulating the expression of groups of genes to influence whole plant phenotypes providing more robust plants and high value plant products. Plant energy organelles are central components in plant metabolism, their coordination by processes such as dual-targeting has potential to modify germination characteristics, ear ....Dual-targeting of proteins and its role in coordinating organelle functions in plants. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia's future will be built on understanding and manipulating the expression of groups of genes to influence whole plant phenotypes providing more robust plants and high value plant products. Plant energy organelles are central components in plant metabolism, their coordination by processes such as dual-targeting has potential to modify germination characteristics, early seedling vigour, and stress tolerance. Studying energy organelles could generate valuable intellectual property to be applied within Australia's large plant-based industries and at the same time provide a rich intellectual environment for the training of research students and postdoctoral researchers.Read moreRead less
Molecular machines: regulation of the catalysis and rotation of the enzyme ATP synthase. This project aims to elucidate the regulation of the molecular machine ATP synthase. ATP synthase is an enzyme that performs a critical role in all cells - the synthesis of ATP, the universal biological energy currency. It is known that the enzyme operates via rotation of a central stalk which is driven by a hydrogen ion gradient across a membrane. Constructs of this molecule have been envisaged in the desig ....Molecular machines: regulation of the catalysis and rotation of the enzyme ATP synthase. This project aims to elucidate the regulation of the molecular machine ATP synthase. ATP synthase is an enzyme that performs a critical role in all cells - the synthesis of ATP, the universal biological energy currency. It is known that the enzyme operates via rotation of a central stalk which is driven by a hydrogen ion gradient across a membrane. Constructs of this molecule have been envisaged in the design of future biological nano-motors. Our work will provide an understanding of the regulation of this enzyme with potential application in the control of nano-motors.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561042
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$852,705.00
Summary
Establishing a high-throughput Protein Production Unit. We seek to establish a world class high-throughput (H-T) protein production unit, the first of its kind in Australia. Throughout the unit robotic technology will be used to build and test protein expression systems as well as drive large scale protein production. The product of the unit will be high quality, pure protein, effective expression systems and world class research. The unit will act as a centre for research into H-T protein ex ....Establishing a high-throughput Protein Production Unit. We seek to establish a world class high-throughput (H-T) protein production unit, the first of its kind in Australia. Throughout the unit robotic technology will be used to build and test protein expression systems as well as drive large scale protein production. The product of the unit will be high quality, pure protein, effective expression systems and world class research. The unit will act as a centre for research into H-T protein expression technology, will underpin the finest biological research, provide the basis for large "structural genomic" type approaches to biological problems and provide a wealth of projects for the Australian synchrotron.Read moreRead less
A Structural Investigation Into Events Within The Immunological Synapse. The proposed research program, using laboratory-based and synchrotron-based radiation, will provide significant fundamental insight into the processes that control infection. Investigating processes central to immunity is important, as it will further our understanding of these critically-important events. Such knowledge will increase Australia's international research standing, as well as having the potential to generat ....A Structural Investigation Into Events Within The Immunological Synapse. The proposed research program, using laboratory-based and synchrotron-based radiation, will provide significant fundamental insight into the processes that control infection. Investigating processes central to immunity is important, as it will further our understanding of these critically-important events. Such knowledge will increase Australia's international research standing, as well as having the potential to generate novel therapies, such as immunosuppressants.Read moreRead less
Mammalian histidine kinase: its characterisation and role in hepatic cellular proliferation. Protein kinases regulate all aspects of cellular metabolism, but there is a class of protein kinase, histidine kinases, which exists in mammalian cells, about which remarkably little is understood. This project will be the first detailed characterisation of such an enzyme and investigation of its cellular function. The enzyme to be characterised is hepatic and it has been implicated in the regulation of ....Mammalian histidine kinase: its characterisation and role in hepatic cellular proliferation. Protein kinases regulate all aspects of cellular metabolism, but there is a class of protein kinase, histidine kinases, which exists in mammalian cells, about which remarkably little is understood. This project will be the first detailed characterisation of such an enzyme and investigation of its cellular function. The enzyme to be characterised is hepatic and it has been implicated in the regulation of DNA replication in regenerating liver. We shall obtain a detailed picture of the role of this histidine kinase in liver cell biology and an insight into the more general biological role of this class of enzyme.Read moreRead less
A comparative study of the laser-tissue interaction between solid state 213nm vs excimer gas 193nm laser systems. We will carry out a comparative study of the latest technological developments in laser vision correction surgery. We will compare the biological effects of a new solid state laser operating at 213nm and a traditional excimer gas laser operating at 193nm. For each laser type, long-term scarring, cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and free radical production will be studied in relevant in viv ....A comparative study of the laser-tissue interaction between solid state 213nm vs excimer gas 193nm laser systems. We will carry out a comparative study of the latest technological developments in laser vision correction surgery. We will compare the biological effects of a new solid state laser operating at 213nm and a traditional excimer gas laser operating at 193nm. For each laser type, long-term scarring, cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and free radical production will be studied in relevant in vivo and in vitro animal models. Furthermore, optimization of the irradiation protocol for the solid state laser will lead to the development of a wide range of biological applications.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989731
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
Instrumentation for Innovative Marine Biogeochemistry. Rising greenhouse gases are changing the chemistry of the oceans, by altering the availability of nutrients and causing ocean acidification. Along with local pollutants, these changes pose significant threats to the productivity and sustainability of Australia's marine ecosystems. The proposed instrumentation will support world-leading research into the nature, impact, and potential for mitigating these changes. This will underpin our abilit ....Instrumentation for Innovative Marine Biogeochemistry. Rising greenhouse gases are changing the chemistry of the oceans, by altering the availability of nutrients and causing ocean acidification. Along with local pollutants, these changes pose significant threats to the productivity and sustainability of Australia's marine ecosystems. The proposed instrumentation will support world-leading research into the nature, impact, and potential for mitigating these changes. This will underpin our ability to manage and preserve the environmental, societal and economic values of our coastal and open ocean marine resources.Read moreRead less
Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in disease. Defects in mitochondria, the energy producing compartments within cells, lead to severe neurodegenerative diseases and contribute to the development of cancer. Treatment for such diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA remains unsatisfactory and mostly confined to supportive measures. The identification of proteins that regulate gene expression within mitochondria provides an unexplored resource of potential disease modulators and drug ta ....Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction in disease. Defects in mitochondria, the energy producing compartments within cells, lead to severe neurodegenerative diseases and contribute to the development of cancer. Treatment for such diseases caused by mutations in mitochondrial DNA remains unsatisfactory and mostly confined to supportive measures. The identification of proteins that regulate gene expression within mitochondria provides an unexplored resource of potential disease modulators and drug targets. This research will lead to new strategies in the design of improved anticancer drugs, which is an important Australian research priority that will promote and maintain good health, and provide potential commercial outcomes.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560712
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$630,837.00
Summary
State-of-the-art biophysical tools for the characterisation of molecular interactions. In the current era of 'the genome' there is more demand than ever before for the characterisation of the gene products - the oligonucleotides and proteins that carry out the important functions in the cell. The current proposal is to acquire a suite of instrumentation to characterise the kinetics, thermodynamics and overall affinities of interactions between biological macromolecules and their physiological bi ....State-of-the-art biophysical tools for the characterisation of molecular interactions. In the current era of 'the genome' there is more demand than ever before for the characterisation of the gene products - the oligonucleotides and proteins that carry out the important functions in the cell. The current proposal is to acquire a suite of instrumentation to characterise the kinetics, thermodynamics and overall affinities of interactions between biological macromolecules and their physiological binding partners or with novel ligands. This will reveal the role of the macromolecules of interest in the cell, and potentially lead to the discovery of drug molecules which could interfere with molecular interactions underlying disease.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882893
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$260,000.00
Summary
A cryopreparation facility for Western Australia. Western Australia is home to a number of world-leading biological and biomedical research groups and some of the best microscopy facilities in the country. Establishing a world-class cryopreparation facility in WA will enable local researchers to remain at the forefront of their research fields and will serve to attract additional high profile international scientists and students to WA. Significant research advancements in areas such as genetic ....A cryopreparation facility for Western Australia. Western Australia is home to a number of world-leading biological and biomedical research groups and some of the best microscopy facilities in the country. Establishing a world-class cryopreparation facility in WA will enable local researchers to remain at the forefront of their research fields and will serve to attract additional high profile international scientists and students to WA. Significant research advancements in areas such as genetic muscular diseases, nerve regeneration, parasitic infection in humans, crop optimisation and tolerance to environmental conditions, and animal growth and reproduction, will result from the establishment of such a facility. Read moreRead less