Decision-making modules in protein interaction networks. This project aims to discover how cells use proteins to make decisions. This is important for all living things, which must react to stimuli to grow, adapt, defend themselves and to die. The project’s anticipated outcome is the systems-level identification of decision-making modules in an intracellular network. Its focus is on the smallest possible modules, which contain a decision-making protein with two modifications that control protein ....Decision-making modules in protein interaction networks. This project aims to discover how cells use proteins to make decisions. This is important for all living things, which must react to stimuli to grow, adapt, defend themselves and to die. The project’s anticipated outcome is the systems-level identification of decision-making modules in an intracellular network. Its focus is on the smallest possible modules, which contain a decision-making protein with two modifications that control protein-proteins interactions. It will investigate two recurrent decision-making modules. The expected benefits of the project include new means to decipher biological complexity, and targets to modulate biosystems by genome editing or with drugs.Read moreRead less
The role and regulation of protein methylation: a study using the recently developed methylation network of yeast. Tiny changes to proteins, such as methylation, can alter the way they interact with other proteins. This project will investigate the dynamics of protein methylation during the life of the yeast cell. The project results will be of long term relevance to situations where we may want to stop cells dividing, such as cancer or infectious disease.
Dynamics of atherosclerotic plaque formation, growth and regression. This project aims to provide a mathematical framework to interpret plaque growth. Many biological processes contribute to the growth of atherosclerotic plaques inside arteries. Lipoproteins enter the artery walls and stimulate tissues to signal to cells which duly respond so that fatty streaks form and grow into dangerous plaques that cause heart attacks or stroke. These processes are often nonlinear and operate on widely varyi ....Dynamics of atherosclerotic plaque formation, growth and regression. This project aims to provide a mathematical framework to interpret plaque growth. Many biological processes contribute to the growth of atherosclerotic plaques inside arteries. Lipoproteins enter the artery walls and stimulate tissues to signal to cells which duly respond so that fatty streaks form and grow into dangerous plaques that cause heart attacks or stroke. These processes are often nonlinear and operate on widely varying time scales. The project plans to use systems of ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations with non-standard boundary conditions, and bifurcation theory to find how nonlinear processes shape plaque growth. The expected results may demonstrate the importance of bifurcations, dynamics and nonlinear systems in plaque growth and provide new models to interpret biological data.Read moreRead less
Is FGF21 the master regulator of protein intake? The project plans to bring together two major, rapidly growing disciplines – nutritional geometry and metabolic signalling – to address a topic of fundamental biological significance: the regulation of protein intake. A specific capacity to regulate protein intake has been shown for organisms spanning slime moulds to humans, yet the controlling mechanisms remain elusive. The project aims to test the hypothesis that fibroblast growth factor 21, rel ....Is FGF21 the master regulator of protein intake? The project plans to bring together two major, rapidly growing disciplines – nutritional geometry and metabolic signalling – to address a topic of fundamental biological significance: the regulation of protein intake. A specific capacity to regulate protein intake has been shown for organisms spanning slime moulds to humans, yet the controlling mechanisms remain elusive. The project aims to test the hypothesis that fibroblast growth factor 21, released from the liver under low protein nutrition, is a master regulator of protein intake. Understanding the mechanisms of protein appetite may have implications for organismal biology, understanding social interactions, the structure of food webs and the health and welfare of food and companion animals and humans.Read moreRead less
How to build the head: A molecular mechanistic insight. This project aims to gain an insight into the functional output of the gene regulatory network and the molecular determinants that are critical for the formation of the head. Genome-wide sequencing technologies are employed to identify the ensemble of genes that are regulated by Lhx1. By a combination of bioinformatics analysis and a system biology approach, the project aims to build a model of the network of the interacting genes for head ....How to build the head: A molecular mechanistic insight. This project aims to gain an insight into the functional output of the gene regulatory network and the molecular determinants that are critical for the formation of the head. Genome-wide sequencing technologies are employed to identify the ensemble of genes that are regulated by Lhx1. By a combination of bioinformatics analysis and a system biology approach, the project aims to build a model of the network of the interacting genes for head development, and to characterise the function of selected components of this network to refine its architecture and define the dynamics of the network. The knowledge may improve our understanding of the molecular mechanism underpinning the naturally-occurring variation in the forms of major body parts, and of how genes and signals work cooperatively to build an embryo.Read moreRead less
Does phosphorylation regulate the methylation of proteins? . The interaction of proteins is a fundamental requirement of life. Tiny switches on proteins affect how they interact but little is known about how these are controlled. This project will study the complex interplay between two types of switches; one is expected to control the other. This will provide new insights into how the cell functions.
Commensal benefits: genomic basis for suppressing plant pathogens with Pseudomonas biocontrol species. Food security is an issue of mounting significance due to unpredictable climate trends and increasing global population growth. A feature of paramount importance to reliable crop production is the capacity to control plant diseases. This project investigates natural plant colonising bacteria as a tool for protecting plants from disease.
Mechanisms of gene regulation. This project aims to determine the molecular basis of specific gene targeting. Transcription factor complexes regulate gene expression by binding to DNA at specific sites, modifying and looping chromatin, and recruiting the basal transcription machinery. Using blood cell transcription factor complexes as a model, this project will reveal interactions between sets of proteins that fine-tune DNA binding and recruit accessory proteins that regulate gene expression. Th ....Mechanisms of gene regulation. This project aims to determine the molecular basis of specific gene targeting. Transcription factor complexes regulate gene expression by binding to DNA at specific sites, modifying and looping chromatin, and recruiting the basal transcription machinery. Using blood cell transcription factor complexes as a model, this project will reveal interactions between sets of proteins that fine-tune DNA binding and recruit accessory proteins that regulate gene expression. The mechanistic detail provided is expected to inform the artificial up- or down-regulation of genes in biotechnological applications and ultimately treat disease which have a genetic component.Read moreRead less
Insulin transport into the central nervous system. This project aims to understand transportation of peripheral insulin into the central nervous system and how it maintains energy balance. Insulin is essential for normal physiological functioning in the periphery and central nervous system, but some circumstances, including high-fat diets, reduce insulin signalling in the brain. This project examines the mechanisms of insulin transport into the central nervous system, and may improve our underst ....Insulin transport into the central nervous system. This project aims to understand transportation of peripheral insulin into the central nervous system and how it maintains energy balance. Insulin is essential for normal physiological functioning in the periphery and central nervous system, but some circumstances, including high-fat diets, reduce insulin signalling in the brain. This project examines the mechanisms of insulin transport into the central nervous system, and may improve our understanding of blood brain barrier insulin transport and dysfunction.Read moreRead less
The Regulatory Network of Histone Methylating and Demethylating Enzymes. This project aims to discover how cells regulate histone methylation enzymes. This process ultimately affects which genes can be turned on or off inside cells; something which is central to growth and development in all animals, all plants and some microbes. Expected outcomes include new knowledge on the regulation of histone methylation, improved techniques for the study of this process and enhanced capacity for internatio ....The Regulatory Network of Histone Methylating and Demethylating Enzymes. This project aims to discover how cells regulate histone methylation enzymes. This process ultimately affects which genes can be turned on or off inside cells; something which is central to growth and development in all animals, all plants and some microbes. Expected outcomes include new knowledge on the regulation of histone methylation, improved techniques for the study of this process and enhanced capacity for international collaboration. New avenues for the artificial regulation of genes may also emerge for synthetic epigenetics. The project should provide significant new findings for the research community, generate research citations and contribute to a highly skilled workforce by the training of staff and students.
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