Cellular Ageing: Is the Plasma Membrane the Control Hub? This project aims to determine whether the plasma membrane lipid composition is a major driver of cellular ageing. It expects to generate new knowledge in the molecular mechanism of cellular ageing, utilising our team’s deep expertise in lipid biology, bioinformatics, biophysics, extracellular vesicle biology and cellular ageing. Expected outcomes include the identification of novel cellular ageing markers and anti-ageing targets while als ....Cellular Ageing: Is the Plasma Membrane the Control Hub? This project aims to determine whether the plasma membrane lipid composition is a major driver of cellular ageing. It expects to generate new knowledge in the molecular mechanism of cellular ageing, utilising our team’s deep expertise in lipid biology, bioinformatics, biophysics, extracellular vesicle biology and cellular ageing. Expected outcomes include the identification of novel cellular ageing markers and anti-ageing targets while also cementing long-standing partnerships and fostering new interdisciplinary collaborations. This cellular ageing study will provide novel insights into the basic principles of cellular behaviour, e.g. growth, differentiation, communication and death, reinforcing Australia’s leadership in biological science.Read moreRead less
Androgen receptor: A master regulator of lipid metabolism. This project aims to understand how male sex hormones, or androgens, affect the amount and metabolism of fats in normal body tissues. By integrating our multi-disciplinary expertise in androgen action, molecular biology, metabolism and bioinformatics with novel techniques and instrumentation, this collaboration expects to generate the first detailed picture of how fat metabolism is controlled by androgens in humans, and how closely this ....Androgen receptor: A master regulator of lipid metabolism. This project aims to understand how male sex hormones, or androgens, affect the amount and metabolism of fats in normal body tissues. By integrating our multi-disciplinary expertise in androgen action, molecular biology, metabolism and bioinformatics with novel techniques and instrumentation, this collaboration expects to generate the first detailed picture of how fat metabolism is controlled by androgens in humans, and how closely this relates to mice. Expected outcomes and benefits will be a new understanding of which aspects of fat metabolism are most influenced by androgens, and an ability to anticipate potential metabolic impacts of natural or pharmacological fluctuations in androgen levels in humans, laboratory animals and livestock.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of novel gene products that regulate phospholipid metabolism and lipid droplet formation in the yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae. This project aims to study gene products that control lipid storage in the form of lipid droplets. The biogenesis and composition of lipid droplets in plant seeds or algae determine the quantity and quality of oil/biodiesel production.
Genome wide screening for gene products that regulate the celluar dynamics of lipid droplets. Obesity is a pandemic that if not stopped, will lead to huge social and economic problems in Australia. In essence, the hallmark of human obesity is the accumulation of cellular lipid droplets. This research will benefit Australia by providing a fundamental understanding of how lipid droplets are formed. This will have immediate international impact at the scientific level and will also provide novel ta ....Genome wide screening for gene products that regulate the celluar dynamics of lipid droplets. Obesity is a pandemic that if not stopped, will lead to huge social and economic problems in Australia. In essence, the hallmark of human obesity is the accumulation of cellular lipid droplets. This research will benefit Australia by providing a fundamental understanding of how lipid droplets are formed. This will have immediate international impact at the scientific level and will also provide novel targets and strategies for treating obesity. The proposed study will also benefit Australian agriculture by providing strategies to improve oil production from plant seeds. Read moreRead less
New laser and mass spectrometry-based tools for comprehensive structural elucidation of lipids and their biomolecular interactions. Lipid-related disorders such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease are reaching epidemic proportions. We propose the development of specialised instrumentation to identify and quantify lipids (fats) in tissue and culture samples thus providing Australian scientists with unique capabilities to investigate the mechanisms of disease.
The role of phospholipids in the biogenesis of lipid droplets. The general aim is to elucidate the fundamental molecular mechanisms that govern the biogenesis/formation of the lipid droplets. Lipid droplets store sterol esters and/or triacylglycerols, two major storage lipids that play key roles in cellular and whole body lipid metabolism. Lipid droplets are also the core components of plant oil and biodiesel. Little is known about how lipid droplets are generated. The proposed work will examine ....The role of phospholipids in the biogenesis of lipid droplets. The general aim is to elucidate the fundamental molecular mechanisms that govern the biogenesis/formation of the lipid droplets. Lipid droplets store sterol esters and/or triacylglycerols, two major storage lipids that play key roles in cellular and whole body lipid metabolism. Lipid droplets are also the core components of plant oil and biodiesel. Little is known about how lipid droplets are generated. The proposed work will examine the synthesis of certain lipid intermediates such as phosphatidic acid, and their impact on the biogenesis of lipid droplets from the endoplasmic reticulum. Such fundamental new knowledge on how cells store neutral lipids will provide new strategies for enhancing plant oil and biodiesel production. Read moreRead less
Pluses and minuses of lipid mass spectrometry. This project aims to investigate the structural diversity of lipids. Lipids are among the most structurally diverse of all the biomolecules and thus deciphering their many functions requires bio-analytical technologies capable of uniquely identifying and quantifying individual molecules in a milieu of many thousands of analogues. Mass spectrometry is the pre-eminent technique for contemporary lipid analysis but is challenged by the preference of cer ....Pluses and minuses of lipid mass spectrometry. This project aims to investigate the structural diversity of lipids. Lipids are among the most structurally diverse of all the biomolecules and thus deciphering their many functions requires bio-analytical technologies capable of uniquely identifying and quantifying individual molecules in a milieu of many thousands of analogues. Mass spectrometry is the pre-eminent technique for contemporary lipid analysis but is challenged by the preference of certain lipids to ionise with a polarity that affords sensitive detection but does not permit detailed structure elucidation. This project will develop advanced instrumentation capable of on-demand polarity switching of ionised lipids such that the detection and interrogation of molecular structure can take place in the optimal charge state.Read moreRead less
Developing next generation technologies for unmasking the lipidome. Recent discoveries suggest that the number and structural variety of lipids in nature may be far greater than previously imagined. This complexity arises from the presence of structurally similar, but functionally distinct, lipid isomers that are not readily distinguished using current lipidomics technologies. This project aims to develop unique instrumentation that combines ion mobility and mass spectrometry to enable the rapid ....Developing next generation technologies for unmasking the lipidome. Recent discoveries suggest that the number and structural variety of lipids in nature may be far greater than previously imagined. This complexity arises from the presence of structurally similar, but functionally distinct, lipid isomers that are not readily distinguished using current lipidomics technologies. This project aims to develop unique instrumentation that combines ion mobility and mass spectrometry to enable the rapid separation, identification and quantification of isomeric lipids. These next generation technologies will be deployed in the hope of unmasking the molecular diversity within the lipidomes of two important mammalian cell types, thus providing fundamental new insights into the structure and function of lipids within living systems.Read moreRead less