The evolutionary transition from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism. This project aims to find out how life on Earth survived the revolutionary changes when cyanobacteria first released oxygen into the atmosphere. These events led to a transition from anoxic (oxygen-free) to oxic (oxygen-rich) conditions. A comparative genomic view across a series of photosynthetic organisms will be performed at the molecular level with ecological interpretation. Understanding of what metabolic changes occurred in ....The evolutionary transition from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism. This project aims to find out how life on Earth survived the revolutionary changes when cyanobacteria first released oxygen into the atmosphere. These events led to a transition from anoxic (oxygen-free) to oxic (oxygen-rich) conditions. A comparative genomic view across a series of photosynthetic organisms will be performed at the molecular level with ecological interpretation. Understanding of what metabolic changes occurred in response to the shifts in the environment will have wide implications for predicting the evolutionary events that are still occurring today, such as rapidly changing climatic conditions. This fundamental research will enhance Australia's profile in this field.Read moreRead less
Modern reptiles with ancient toxins: the molecular origin and evolution of novel bioactive proteins from squamate dental glands. Animal venoms provide a rich source of novel bioactive proteins, some of which have demonstrated therapeutically useful activities. Through this researcher's unique approach of investigating previously unmapped squamate venom systems, there is potential for the identification of divergent, bioactive proteins. Those already identified by the applicant in the dental gl ....Modern reptiles with ancient toxins: the molecular origin and evolution of novel bioactive proteins from squamate dental glands. Animal venoms provide a rich source of novel bioactive proteins, some of which have demonstrated therapeutically useful activities. Through this researcher's unique approach of investigating previously unmapped squamate venom systems, there is potential for the identification of divergent, bioactive proteins. Those already identified by the applicant in the dental glands of Australian monitor lizard species represent a tremendous opportunity for biodiscovery. Further knowledge in this area will increase medical understandings of bites and aid conservation measures informed by the natural history of these animals.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of heavy metal transport genes in the plant Arabidopsis: potential roles in metal detoxification and accumulation. Plants have considerable potential for the bioremediation ("phytoremediation") of contaminated soils, including soils polluted with heavy metals. Progress has been made in understanding the physiological and biochemical mechanisms by which plants accumulate and detoxify heavy metals. One important aspect of metal detoxification is the transport of metals across cell ....Characterisation of heavy metal transport genes in the plant Arabidopsis: potential roles in metal detoxification and accumulation. Plants have considerable potential for the bioremediation ("phytoremediation") of contaminated soils, including soils polluted with heavy metals. Progress has been made in understanding the physiological and biochemical mechanisms by which plants accumulate and detoxify heavy metals. One important aspect of metal detoxification is the transport of metals across cell membranes. The recently completed genome project for the model plant Arabidopsis has identified a family of genes encoding heavy metal transport proteins. This project aims to investigate the roles of these genes in metal detoxification. In the longer term this knowledge can be applied to the improvement of phytoremediation processes.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of zinc transport and homeostasis in the plant, Arabidopsis. Zinc-deficiency is one of the most widespread factors limiting crop production and affects many soils of south-east and south-west Australia. Certain zinc-efficient (ZE) crop cultivars are able to grow well under zinc deficient conditions but the genetic basis for ZE is not well understood. Using a model organism such as Arabidopsis to identify genes in plants that are important in zinc transport and homeostasis will ultimat ....Mechanisms of zinc transport and homeostasis in the plant, Arabidopsis. Zinc-deficiency is one of the most widespread factors limiting crop production and affects many soils of south-east and south-west Australia. Certain zinc-efficient (ZE) crop cultivars are able to grow well under zinc deficient conditions but the genetic basis for ZE is not well understood. Using a model organism such as Arabidopsis to identify genes in plants that are important in zinc transport and homeostasis will ultimately allow us to assess whether the homologous genes in crop species are responsible for ZE. This may contribute to more rapid and directed strategies in breeding ZE crop cultivars.Read moreRead less
Regulation of mammalian differentiation by methylation of histones and transcription factors. The objective of this proposal is to examine the functional role of arginine and lysine methylation during skeletal muscle differentiation. Differentiation, i.e the acquisition of a specific phenotype, is the biological end point of the ?Genome-Phenome? transition. Specifically, the proposal will seek to understand the role of protein methylation in the control of tissue specific gene expression and ce ....Regulation of mammalian differentiation by methylation of histones and transcription factors. The objective of this proposal is to examine the functional role of arginine and lysine methylation during skeletal muscle differentiation. Differentiation, i.e the acquisition of a specific phenotype, is the biological end point of the ?Genome-Phenome? transition. Specifically, the proposal will seek to understand the role of protein methylation in the control of tissue specific gene expression and cell signaling during differentiation. Key areas of study in the ARC priority area of Genome-Phenome research. We will test the hypothesis that the activity/function of the hierarchical myogenic transcription factors and cofactors that control skeletal myogenesis is influenced by protein methylation.Read moreRead less
Understanding how dynamic changes in chromatin composition control genome function. DNA is tightly packaged in eukaryotic cells as chromatin. Important genetic processes, such as transcription, require manipulation of chromatin structure to access the DNA. The cell sets up specialised chromatin structures to regulate these processes. Currently, precise molecular details of these specialised structures are limited. This project will push the envelope of an in vitro model chromatin system and dete ....Understanding how dynamic changes in chromatin composition control genome function. DNA is tightly packaged in eukaryotic cells as chromatin. Important genetic processes, such as transcription, require manipulation of chromatin structure to access the DNA. The cell sets up specialised chromatin structures to regulate these processes. Currently, precise molecular details of these specialised structures are limited. This project will push the envelope of an in vitro model chromatin system and determine the architecture of several chromatin states with unique functional implications inside the cell. This will unravel the molecular instructions that define how our genomes are organised, significantly advancing our knowledge of fundamental eukaryotic genome biology and paving the way for the future development of new tools and therapies.Read moreRead less
The Cytochrome P450 Gene Super-family in Drosophila melanogaster; Gene Function and Insecticide Resistance. The cytochrome P450 (Cyp) gene super-family is represented by over 90 sequences in the genome of the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster. To date, four Cyp genes are found to be involved in insecticide resistance. The function of the majority of Cyp genes is unknown. This project will investigate the function and regulation of D. melanogaster Cyp genes, linking the fly's genotype to its ....The Cytochrome P450 Gene Super-family in Drosophila melanogaster; Gene Function and Insecticide Resistance. The cytochrome P450 (Cyp) gene super-family is represented by over 90 sequences in the genome of the vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster. To date, four Cyp genes are found to be involved in insecticide resistance. The function of the majority of Cyp genes is unknown. This project will investigate the function and regulation of D. melanogaster Cyp genes, linking the fly's genotype to its phenotype. By studying the effects of Cyp genes on fly survival, Cyp gene expression and regulation, and expressing selected Cyp genes in a yeast expression system, we will enhance our understanding of Cyp gene function and evolution.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882512
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
Advanced high throughput functional genomics and gene mapping. Infrastructure requested will expand the capacity of researchers in NSW to undertake experiments using state-of-the-art technologies based on the recent advances in genomic and proteomic analysis. It will ensure the retention of leading researchers in the exciting areas of functional genomics and systems biology as contribute to biomolecular research in medicine, agriculture and environmental biology, thereby providing major benefit ....Advanced high throughput functional genomics and gene mapping. Infrastructure requested will expand the capacity of researchers in NSW to undertake experiments using state-of-the-art technologies based on the recent advances in genomic and proteomic analysis. It will ensure the retention of leading researchers in the exciting areas of functional genomics and systems biology as contribute to biomolecular research in medicine, agriculture and environmental biology, thereby providing major benefits to the wider community. The application aims to enhance existing genomic technologies by adding platforms that will increase the scope of experiments that can be performed as well as providing automation and increased capacity to handle the increasing demand for these techniquesRead moreRead less
The control of cell signalling by membrane remodelling. Cells secrete signalling molecules called growth factors to drive critical developmental processes such as growth, differentiation and death. This project aims to understand a new mechanism that we have discovered for the control of growth factors by a protein family evolved to damage cell membranes. This is highly novel since the usual role of these proteins is to kill pathogens targeted by the immune system. By coupling innovative genetic ....The control of cell signalling by membrane remodelling. Cells secrete signalling molecules called growth factors to drive critical developmental processes such as growth, differentiation and death. This project aims to understand a new mechanism that we have discovered for the control of growth factors by a protein family evolved to damage cell membranes. This is highly novel since the usual role of these proteins is to kill pathogens targeted by the immune system. By coupling innovative genetics, high-resolution imaging, and advanced biochemical analyses, this project intends to provide key molecular insights into how cell signalling can be regulated during animal development. We anticipate that this will impact our general understanding of membrane biology and its influence on cell signalling.Read moreRead less
The role of the neuronal Hu proteins in the regulation of the BMP signalling pathway. We aim to understand the critical decision of a neural progenitor to commit to becoming a neuron. The BMP signalling pathway is central in this decision. Neural progenitors appear to become insensitive to BMP signals, and this lack of signalling leads to neuronal differentiation. We hypothesise that neuronal identity is regulated by an unusual genetic switch- the translational regulation by the neuronal Hu pr ....The role of the neuronal Hu proteins in the regulation of the BMP signalling pathway. We aim to understand the critical decision of a neural progenitor to commit to becoming a neuron. The BMP signalling pathway is central in this decision. Neural progenitors appear to become insensitive to BMP signals, and this lack of signalling leads to neuronal differentiation. We hypothesise that neuronal identity is regulated by an unusual genetic switch- the translational regulation by the neuronal Hu proteins of two proteins in the BMP pathway. Verification of a post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism for cell fate determination would be a major discovery, and may prompt investigation of how to harness the neuron-inducing function of the Hu proteins to address the therapeutic need for new neurons in neurologic diseases.Read moreRead less