How Does The Mitochondria Regulate Cardiac L-type Ca2+ Channel Function?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$328,267.00
Summary
Oxygen is vital to cellular metabolism and function. Oxygen delivery to cells is critical and a lack of oxygen such as occurs during a heart attack can be lethal. The L-type Ca2+ channel is a protein in the membrane of heart muscle cells responsible for regulating the entry of calcium into heart muscle cells. It plays a role in maintaining the heart beat and contraction. We have found that a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) alters the function of the L-type Ca2+ channel and its response to adrenergic st ....Oxygen is vital to cellular metabolism and function. Oxygen delivery to cells is critical and a lack of oxygen such as occurs during a heart attack can be lethal. The L-type Ca2+ channel is a protein in the membrane of heart muscle cells responsible for regulating the entry of calcium into heart muscle cells. It plays a role in maintaining the heart beat and contraction. We have found that a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) alters the function of the L-type Ca2+ channel and its response to adrenergic stimulation (adrenaline).This may be one of the ways that rhythm disturbances or sudden cardiac death occurs with a heart attack. The activity of the L-type Ca2+ channel is sensitive to changes in reactive oxygen species caused by changes in oxygen concentration. The reactive oxygen species are generated from a part of the cell responsible for maintaining the cell's energy requirements (the mitochondria). Oxidative stress is a feature of various cardiovascular pathologies and we are now interested in determining the effect of oxidative stress on function of the L-type Ca2+ channel and the role of the mitochondria in generating reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress can damage mitochondria leading to an increase in production of reactive oxygen species. We will determine how oxidative stress damages the mitochondria and how this then alters the channel function, directly or indirectly. The information gained will provide insight into how reactive oxygen species influence L-type Ca2+ channel function and the mechanisms that contribute to pathology involving reactive oxygen species such as heart failure and arrhythmia.Read moreRead less
Redox Control Of The Immune Regulatory Protein, Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$576,538.00
Summary
An enzyme called indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase is important for controlling the immune system during normal and disease conditions including pregnancy, cancer, inflammation and infectious disease. Despite its importance little is known about how this enzyme is controlled. This project will provide important new insights into how this enzyme is regulated. Such fundamental scientific information can discover new ways in which to alter the enzyme's activity in order to modulate immune responses.
Bulk Mg based hydrogen storage alloys with faster activation. Bulk Mg based hydrogen storage alloys with faster activation. This project aims to improve the performance and efficiency of manufacture of magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys, making them more cost competitive and widely useable. A hydrogen economy will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in urban areas. The expected outcomes are an understanding of the mechanisms governing the activation process, a necessary ....Bulk Mg based hydrogen storage alloys with faster activation. Bulk Mg based hydrogen storage alloys with faster activation. This project aims to improve the performance and efficiency of manufacture of magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys, making them more cost competitive and widely useable. A hydrogen economy will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality in urban areas. The expected outcomes are an understanding of the mechanisms governing the activation process, a necessary step in manufacture, and techniques to exploit these mechanisms to minimise the activation time. This is expected to develop competitive, bulk magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys for effective and safe hydrogen storage systems.Read moreRead less
Mesoporous Metal Scaffolds: Reactive Containment Vessels. The storage of hydrogen is one of the most important issues that remains to be solved before the mass implementation of hydrogen as an energy carrier becomes commercially viable. This project aims to determine the kinetic and thermodynamic benefits of mesoporous metal scaffolds as reactive containment vessels for hydrogen storage materials. Fundamental experimental research into the synthesis, characterisation, and modification of nano-co ....Mesoporous Metal Scaffolds: Reactive Containment Vessels. The storage of hydrogen is one of the most important issues that remains to be solved before the mass implementation of hydrogen as an energy carrier becomes commercially viable. This project aims to determine the kinetic and thermodynamic benefits of mesoporous metal scaffolds as reactive containment vessels for hydrogen storage materials. Fundamental experimental research into the synthesis, characterisation, and modification of nano-confined hydrogen storage materials will be carried out. The results of this research are expected be used to tune hydrogen desorption temperatures and pressures of various light weight hydrogen storage materials to generate new materials attractive to the automobile industry.Read moreRead less
Modification of optical properties of photocatalytic titania. The aim of the project is to capitalise on and optimise the recently discovered successful modification of the optical properties of titanium oxide (TiO2), such that efficient solar splitting of water is possible. TiO2 photocatalysts of adequate efficiency will be implemented as photoanodes in photoelectrochemical cells capable of large-scale production of hydrogen.
Metal boranes as energy materials. This project aims to develop cheaper and better performing energy storage solutions using metal boranes. New materials are needed to advance energy storage technologies. This project will design metal boranes and their derivatives to tackle energy storage as solid-state electrolytes for battery applications, and as thermochemical energy storage materials It will investigate the thermochemical energy storage properties of metal boranes for high temperature solar ....Metal boranes as energy materials. This project aims to develop cheaper and better performing energy storage solutions using metal boranes. New materials are needed to advance energy storage technologies. This project will design metal boranes and their derivatives to tackle energy storage as solid-state electrolytes for battery applications, and as thermochemical energy storage materials It will investigate the thermochemical energy storage properties of metal boranes for high temperature solar thermal energy storage applications.Read moreRead less
Exploration of highly regenerable boron-nitrogen based hydrides for hydrogen storage. The project will design and synthesise novel boron-nitrogen hydrides. It will employ material design strategies, such as new synthesis techniques, dopant destabilisation, and dehydrogenation catalysts to design and experimentally validate novel multicomponent hydride systems with high storage capacities (above 9 wt% under near-ambient conditions) and high reversibility. The outcomes of this project will make a ....Exploration of highly regenerable boron-nitrogen based hydrides for hydrogen storage. The project will design and synthesise novel boron-nitrogen hydrides. It will employ material design strategies, such as new synthesis techniques, dopant destabilisation, and dehydrogenation catalysts to design and experimentally validate novel multicomponent hydride systems with high storage capacities (above 9 wt% under near-ambient conditions) and high reversibility. The outcomes of this project will make a significant enhancement in the performance of solid state hydrogen storage materials and will deliver a viable storage technology for a range of fuel cell applications.Read moreRead less
Liquid-phase hydrogen carriers for energy storage and delivery. This project aims to overcome hydrogen storage and delivery issues by developing liquid-phase hydrogen storage materials with high hydrogen capacity, exceptional stability and that do not change phase during hydrogen evolution. This project will build on the recent synthesis of strategically important hydrogen storage compounds. The innovative liquid-phase hydrogen storage and delivery technology will enable effective usage of estab ....Liquid-phase hydrogen carriers for energy storage and delivery. This project aims to overcome hydrogen storage and delivery issues by developing liquid-phase hydrogen storage materials with high hydrogen capacity, exceptional stability and that do not change phase during hydrogen evolution. This project will build on the recent synthesis of strategically important hydrogen storage compounds. The innovative liquid-phase hydrogen storage and delivery technology will enable effective usage of established liquid fuel distribution techniques and infrastructure throughout the country. The project would benefit renewable energy, chemical, and manufacturing industries, where new employment opportunities would be created.Read moreRead less
A new photoelectrochemical system for solar hydrogen and electricity. This project aims to develop a new integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) system for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity simultaneously. The key concept is to design innovative advanced materials which will be integrated into PEC devices with capacitor function for both solar fuel production and electricity storage. This project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the fundamental mechanism of de ....A new photoelectrochemical system for solar hydrogen and electricity. This project aims to develop a new integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) system for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity simultaneously. The key concept is to design innovative advanced materials which will be integrated into PEC devices with capacitor function for both solar fuel production and electricity storage. This project expects to generate new knowledge in understanding the fundamental mechanism of developing functional materials for more efficient solar energy conversion and storage. Expected outcomes include prototypes of the next generation advanced materials and technologies for sustainable energy utilisation systems for converting solar energy into hydrogen and electricity.Read moreRead less