Artificially building the bacterial flagellar motor. This project will allow us to learn how nature’s most sophisticated rotary motor works and how to build these artificially, establishing a new field of research into man-made biological machines. This has potential applications for the emerging field of nanotechnology to make nanometre-scale devices that are powered by efficient biological machines.
Protein structure controls light harvesting in photosynthetic light algae. The strange phenomena of quantum mechanics were not expected to play a direct role in life, however, it appears that quantum effects may be important in the efficient capture of sunlight for photosynthesis. The conditions for the emergence of quantum phenomena appear to be set by the structures of proteins. The aim of this project is to relate protein structure to the emergence of quantum effects in the light harvesting p ....Protein structure controls light harvesting in photosynthetic light algae. The strange phenomena of quantum mechanics were not expected to play a direct role in life, however, it appears that quantum effects may be important in the efficient capture of sunlight for photosynthesis. The conditions for the emergence of quantum phenomena appear to be set by the structures of proteins. The aim of this project is to relate protein structure to the emergence of quantum effects in the light harvesting proteins of marine algae. Understanding the link between structure and quantum effects could improve our knowledge of how nature achieves its remarkable efficiency in utilising the energy from the sun. This is likely to foster new technologies that improve the efficiency of solar energy systems.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (CIPPS) strives to build a critical understanding of peptides and proteins in order to unleash the potential of these biomolecules for human benefit. We will discover nature’s untapped reservoir of peptides and proteins, decode their structures and functions, and
develop enhanced synthetic technologies to address biology’s next grand challenge—the d ....ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science (CIPPS) strives to build a critical understanding of peptides and proteins in order to unleash the potential of these biomolecules for human benefit. We will discover nature’s untapped reservoir of peptides and proteins, decode their structures and functions, and
develop enhanced synthetic technologies to address biology’s next grand challenge—the design of peptides and proteins for targeted scientific, agricultural, biotechnology, animal health and pharmaceutical applications. CIPPS will assemble leading researchers from diverse disciplines to create a sustainable national entity that will drive new Australian industries and train next generation researchers.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100179
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,189,000.00
Summary
Automated high resolution and high contrast cryo -TEM for three-dimensional structural biology. This project aims to establish a facility in automated, single-particle cryo-TEM and cryo-TEM tomography (Titan Krios) that will enable atomic and molecular structure research and three-dimensional subcellular and cellular imaging. The project will span all multiscale cryo-TEM modalities from the visualisation of cells, membranes and macromolecular complexes, through to near-atomic-resolution protein ....Automated high resolution and high contrast cryo -TEM for three-dimensional structural biology. This project aims to establish a facility in automated, single-particle cryo-TEM and cryo-TEM tomography (Titan Krios) that will enable atomic and molecular structure research and three-dimensional subcellular and cellular imaging. The project will span all multiscale cryo-TEM modalities from the visualisation of cells, membranes and macromolecular complexes, through to near-atomic-resolution protein structure determination. Cryo-single particle analysis and tomography are recognised as revolutionary technologies in molecular structural biology and powerful enablers of future ground-breaking discovery. The project will deliver significant competitive advantage for Australia in leading-edge structure-based research, drug discovery, new opportunities for applied research and development, and showcasing science to the public.Read moreRead less
Molecular mechanisms of novel bacterial copper defense proteins. This project aims to reveal molecular and cellular mechanisms used by bacteria to neutralise the destructive effects of copper. Copper is an essential trace element in living systems. It is toxic to bacteria and so plays a vital role in nutritional immunity. To counteract copper toxicity, bacteria have evolved defense mechanisms. The project will investigate a novel but poorly understood class of bacterial proteins, the suppressor ....Molecular mechanisms of novel bacterial copper defense proteins. This project aims to reveal molecular and cellular mechanisms used by bacteria to neutralise the destructive effects of copper. Copper is an essential trace element in living systems. It is toxic to bacteria and so plays a vital role in nutritional immunity. To counteract copper toxicity, bacteria have evolved defense mechanisms. The project will investigate a novel but poorly understood class of bacterial proteins, the suppressor of copper sensitivity proteins, that contribute to this key virulence trait. The expected outcomes will be fundamental new knowledge of metallo-protein diversity, bacterial virulence mechanisms, and membrane protein function with potential impact on health, environment, and biotechnology.Read moreRead less
The structure of heteromeric amyloid fibrils with signaling activity. This project aims to determine the composition, structure and properties of important protein complexes involved in a newly identified cell death pathway known as necroptosis. This cell death pathway removes unwanted or damaged cells during development or infection. These necroptosis protein complexes are unusual because they have a fibrillar amyloid structure, contain more than one protein type in the fibrils and have a funct ....The structure of heteromeric amyloid fibrils with signaling activity. This project aims to determine the composition, structure and properties of important protein complexes involved in a newly identified cell death pathway known as necroptosis. This cell death pathway removes unwanted or damaged cells during development or infection. These necroptosis protein complexes are unusual because they have a fibrillar amyloid structure, contain more than one protein type in the fibrils and have a functional, signalling role. The research will determine how these fibrils form and how the structures confers biological function. It could identify features in these fibrils that can be targeted as a means of ultimately preventing tissue damage after heart attack and stroke.Read moreRead less
How does an essential histone variant effect changes in gene expression? The mechanisms that determine how genes are switched on and off in different tissues and at different times are not clearly known. It is well established that gene expression patterns are determined in part by the molecular signals transmitted by variation in the proteins that package eukaryotic DNA. Our aim is to understand new aspects of these mechanisms that revolve around how our DNA is packaged. This foundational knowl ....How does an essential histone variant effect changes in gene expression? The mechanisms that determine how genes are switched on and off in different tissues and at different times are not clearly known. It is well established that gene expression patterns are determined in part by the molecular signals transmitted by variation in the proteins that package eukaryotic DNA. Our aim is to understand new aspects of these mechanisms that revolve around how our DNA is packaged. This foundational knowledge will deepen our understanding of gene regulation in all complex organisms and will inform future efforts to rationally modulate gene expression patterns in agriculture, research and other important areas.Read moreRead less
The Role of DNA Methylation in Transcription Factor Activity. Although it is well established that gene expression is closely correlated with DNA methylation, its role in regulating the activity of DNA-binding proteins remains unclear. It has recently been shown that Krüppel-like transcription factors (KLF) have distinct binding preferences for methylated DNA sequences. This project aims to investigate how the activity of transcription factors is dependent upon targeting of methylated DNA by def ....The Role of DNA Methylation in Transcription Factor Activity. Although it is well established that gene expression is closely correlated with DNA methylation, its role in regulating the activity of DNA-binding proteins remains unclear. It has recently been shown that Krüppel-like transcription factors (KLF) have distinct binding preferences for methylated DNA sequences. This project aims to investigate how the activity of transcription factors is dependent upon targeting of methylated DNA by defining the genome-wide set of sites and structural domains critical for binding. It also will explore the functional significance of these sequences using assays that investigate the importance of DNA methylation in KLF mediated cellular reprogramming to the pluripotent state.Read moreRead less
Undermining fungal defences by targeting their functional amyloid armour. This project will determine how a protective protein coating forms on the surface of fungal spores and infectious structures. This coating is comprised of amyloid protein fibrils and is used by fungi to improve efficiency of infection and to avoid detection by the host plant or animal. We have discovered novel small molecules that prevent the fibrils from forming. This project will use these molecules to reveal the details ....Undermining fungal defences by targeting their functional amyloid armour. This project will determine how a protective protein coating forms on the surface of fungal spores and infectious structures. This coating is comprised of amyloid protein fibrils and is used by fungi to improve efficiency of infection and to avoid detection by the host plant or animal. We have discovered novel small molecules that prevent the fibrils from forming. This project will use these molecules to reveal the details of the fibril assembly mechanism and find the best way to undermine this fungal defence system. This knowledge will enable the development of potent small molecule inhibitors to treat fungal infections that blight crops and harm animals, and the production of new layered biomaterials for nanotechnology applications.Read moreRead less
Single-molecule optofluidics: streamlining high-throughput engineering and analysis of proteins and protein assemblies. This project aims at creating novel technologies for high-throughput engineering and analysis of proteins with single-molecule sensitivity. The platform will considerably accelerate the generation of protein-based diagnostics, new vaccines and therapeutics; it will foster collaborations with industry putting Australia at the forefront of protein research.