Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100091
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$341,000.00
Summary
Traffic on DNA: interplay between RNA polymerases and DNA-bound proteins. The DNA inside the cell is not just a repository of information, but is an active player in how that information is used. Proteins bind to defined locations on the DNA to control which genes are active, and genes are expressed by RNA polymerases that track along the DNA. Collisions between RNA polymerases and DNA-bound proteins can remove the proteins or block the polymerase. How can these essential processes safely coexis ....Traffic on DNA: interplay between RNA polymerases and DNA-bound proteins. The DNA inside the cell is not just a repository of information, but is an active player in how that information is used. Proteins bind to defined locations on the DNA to control which genes are active, and genes are expressed by RNA polymerases that track along the DNA. Collisions between RNA polymerases and DNA-bound proteins can remove the proteins or block the polymerase. How can these essential processes safely coexist on the DNA? The project aims to integrate systematic experiments using well-defined genetic components and mathematical modelling to understand the 'design' features of DNA and proteins that minimise these traffic problems. A better understanding could inform new strategies for manipulation of gene expression.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of tumour variants of Devil Facial Tumour Disease. This project will take a new approach to cancer research by studying the evolution of Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The results will directly contribute to the conservation management of the Tasmanian devil, as well as generating new information on tumour growth, metastasis and emergence of resistance.
Investigating Hippo-regulated transcription at single molecule resolution. Signalling pathways operate throughout life to relay signals from the extracellular world to the cellular nucleus, to control transcription and elicit a response. This project aims to understand how the Hippo growth control pathway regulates transcription. Using a combination of biology, biophysics and computational biology, this project aims to quantify behaviour of the Hippo pathway transcription factors at sub-micron r ....Investigating Hippo-regulated transcription at single molecule resolution. Signalling pathways operate throughout life to relay signals from the extracellular world to the cellular nucleus, to control transcription and elicit a response. This project aims to understand how the Hippo growth control pathway regulates transcription. Using a combination of biology, biophysics and computational biology, this project aims to quantify behaviour of the Hippo pathway transcription factors at sub-micron resolution, and how Hippo signalling modulates their behaviour, interaction with the genome and function. We anticipate our discoveries will stimulate new research, e.g. testing of how other signaling pathways regulate transcription. Intended benefits are creation of jobs and new knowledge on fundamental principles of life.Read moreRead less
Nanotechnology in nature: the evolutionary significance of iridescent ultraviolet colouration in butterflies. Nanostructural colour is a novel and interesting biological phenomenon that has potential application in textile and paint industries. This research has the potential to uncover knowledge relevant to future genetic manipulation and/or artificial synthesis of this trait for industry. Fundamental benefits will include a contribution to our understanding of evolution and biological diversit ....Nanotechnology in nature: the evolutionary significance of iridescent ultraviolet colouration in butterflies. Nanostructural colour is a novel and interesting biological phenomenon that has potential application in textile and paint industries. This research has the potential to uncover knowledge relevant to future genetic manipulation and/or artificial synthesis of this trait for industry. Fundamental benefits will include a contribution to our understanding of evolution and biological diversity, enhancement of Australia's research profile, and the cultivation of new scientific expertise. This proposal also promises to benefit the Australian scientific community through the establishment of collaborative links with universities in the USA and UK, and to increase mainstream awareness of Australia's stunning natural resources.Read moreRead less
Insect age: an ecological genomics approach to understanding host-parasite interactions. The importance of insect age (or the age structure of a population of insects) in understanding relationships between insects and their abiotic and biotic environment has been stressed in many theoretical studies but seldom directly tested. This is because few tools exist that can accurately measure the age of a wild-caught insect with any accuracy. In this proposal we plan to use a genomics approach to deve ....Insect age: an ecological genomics approach to understanding host-parasite interactions. The importance of insect age (or the age structure of a population of insects) in understanding relationships between insects and their abiotic and biotic environment has been stressed in many theoretical studies but seldom directly tested. This is because few tools exist that can accurately measure the age of a wild-caught insect with any accuracy. In this proposal we plan to use a genomics approach to develop tools that can be used to efficiently determine the age of an insect and then apply these tools to better understand the relationship between insect age and the ability of an insect to transmit pathogens to humans, livestock or plants. These tools will also have future applicability in developing new approaches to control insect transmitted disease as well as provide methodology to determine the effectiveness of current control programs that seek to kill pest insect populations of agricultural or public health significance.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100506
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Specialised ribosomes: An unexplored regulatory layer to tune the proteome. This project aims to decipher human ribosome composition across tissues and conditions, and regulate its composition and activity (selective translation of subsets of transcripts) in a tissue-dependent, spatial and temporal manner – a major challenge in biology. Although ribosomes have been historically thought of as uniform entities, recent evidence suggests that their composition might be regulated. Elevating the expre ....Specialised ribosomes: An unexplored regulatory layer to tune the proteome. This project aims to decipher human ribosome composition across tissues and conditions, and regulate its composition and activity (selective translation of subsets of transcripts) in a tissue-dependent, spatial and temporal manner – a major challenge in biology. Although ribosomes have been historically thought of as uniform entities, recent evidence suggests that their composition might be regulated. Elevating the expression of a target protein without affecting mRNA levels is expected to benefit other disciplines, including biotechnology (e.g. recombinant protein expression), biomedicine (e.g. treatment of a human disease by suppression or enhancement of the levels of key disease-related proteins) and synthetic biology.Read moreRead less
Road rules for traffic on DNA - gene regulation by encounters between transcribing RNA polymerases and DNA-bound proteins. This project addresses a widespread but poorly understood phenomenon in gene regulation. The work will support Australian industries by supplying new tools for manipulation of gene expression for industrial and medical applications and will provide unique opportunities for Australian students in this emerging field.
Epigenetics, environment, and evolution. This project will aim to understand how biological information can exist and be passed from one generation to the next without being encoded in the gene sequence, and also how our early environment can modify this so-called "epigenetic" information to alter disease risk.
Beyond the genome: unravelling the intricacies of epigenetic regulation using the honey bee model. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation, provide the interface between genome and environment. Abnormalities in epigenetic regulation lead to cancer and other diseases. The project will be using the alternative phenotypes in honeybees, fertile queens and sterile workers, to understand how dietary factors control conditional gene expression by methylation
Transcriptome sequencing and functional characterisation of craniate non-visual sensory systems and their adaptation to diverse light environments. Light detection (photoreception) is critical to species survival. It is not limited to vision, but also serves to set biological rhythms. In mammals, all photoreception is thought to occur solely through the eye, but in non-mammals many other tissues directly monitor light levels. However, the signalling cascades and functional roles of these non-vis ....Transcriptome sequencing and functional characterisation of craniate non-visual sensory systems and their adaptation to diverse light environments. Light detection (photoreception) is critical to species survival. It is not limited to vision, but also serves to set biological rhythms. In mammals, all photoreception is thought to occur solely through the eye, but in non-mammals many other tissues directly monitor light levels. However, the signalling cascades and functional roles of these non-visual pathways are largely unknown. This project will use high-throughput sequencing technologies and functional analyses to trace the origin and function of different irradiance detection systems in each main craniate class. By comparing species from diverse photic habitats, the influence of light as a substrate for adaptation will be investigated.Read moreRead less