Control Of SNARE-mediated Granule Fusion In Mast Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,527.00
Summary
Asthma is an allergic disease affecting two million Australians. A major player in asthma is the mast cell which releases histamine when the cell is stimulated by antigen. The process by which histamine is released involves fusion of cytoplasmic granules containing the histamine with the cell surface membrane. The mechanism of this fusion process appears to be different in mast cells compared with other cells studied, raising the possibility that release of histamine, and hence the acute allergi ....Asthma is an allergic disease affecting two million Australians. A major player in asthma is the mast cell which releases histamine when the cell is stimulated by antigen. The process by which histamine is released involves fusion of cytoplasmic granules containing the histamine with the cell surface membrane. The mechanism of this fusion process appears to be different in mast cells compared with other cells studied, raising the possibility that release of histamine, and hence the acute allergic response, could be controlled if more were understood about the fusion process. This project aims to define the mechanism by which granules dock and then fuse with the cell surface. These are the two apects most likely to be unique in mast cells.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms Of Premature Cranial Fusion: Role Of Retinol Binding Protein 4 In Osteogenesis And Suture Fusion
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$555,855.00
Summary
Craniosynostosis is a condition where the skull bones fuse prematurely, affecting skull shape, vision and cognition. It occurs in 1 in 2,500 births. The only treatment is surgery, which is life-threatening, costly and may need to be repeated. By studying how fusion happens in this project we may be able to devise therapies to minimize the risks and need for re-operation. Here, we hope to show that modification of a single substance in the skull of mouse models can prevent premature bone fusion.