Development of metal probes for the selective recognition of DNA. Transition metal complexes with large aromatic ligands have recently been shown to bind DNA by intercalation. However, controversy continues over their base sequence and groove selectivity. We will synthesise a range of chiral metal complexes and screen these against combinatorial oligonucleotide libraries to determine their base sequence selectivity. The information obtained will help us design better intercalators that can be us ....Development of metal probes for the selective recognition of DNA. Transition metal complexes with large aromatic ligands have recently been shown to bind DNA by intercalation. However, controversy continues over their base sequence and groove selectivity. We will synthesise a range of chiral metal complexes and screen these against combinatorial oligonucleotide libraries to determine their base sequence selectivity. The information obtained will help us design better intercalators that can be used as sensitive molecular probes and may find application as antitumour drugs. Binding interaction between the complex and DNA will be studied by NMR spectroscopy.Read moreRead less
Biologically active peptides from Australian and Russian Amphibians. Bowie's group has identified many host-defence peptides from Australian anurans, including antimicrobial and anticancer active peptides, and neuropeptides that inhibit the formation of the ubiquitous chemical messenger nitric oxide. Lebedev's group from Moscow have initiated a collaboration with us to investigate active peptides from unstudied Russian frogs and newts. Preliminary investigations show these are very different f ....Biologically active peptides from Australian and Russian Amphibians. Bowie's group has identified many host-defence peptides from Australian anurans, including antimicrobial and anticancer active peptides, and neuropeptides that inhibit the formation of the ubiquitous chemical messenger nitric oxide. Lebedev's group from Moscow have initiated a collaboration with us to investigate active peptides from unstudied Russian frogs and newts. Preliminary investigations show these are very different from those isolated from Australian anurans and some already show potential for development as pharmaceuticals.Read moreRead less
Inhibitors of enzymes in the lysine biosynthetic pathway. Recent reports of increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics highlight the need for continual development of new antibacterial agents. Inhibitors of the biosynthesis of the amino acid lysine - an essential component of bacterial proteins and cell wall - may provide a novel class of antibiotics. This project describes investigations of the mechanism of the first two enzymes in the lysine biosynthetic pathway and the design and synthesi ....Inhibitors of enzymes in the lysine biosynthetic pathway. Recent reports of increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics highlight the need for continual development of new antibacterial agents. Inhibitors of the biosynthesis of the amino acid lysine - an essential component of bacterial proteins and cell wall - may provide a novel class of antibiotics. This project describes investigations of the mechanism of the first two enzymes in the lysine biosynthetic pathway and the design and synthesis of inhibitors of these enzymes.Read moreRead less
New clean and green aqueous metathesis. The technique of olefin metathesis has already yielded new pharmaceuticals and materials for use in consumer products and ballistic protection. This project will help move metathesis into the realms of natures aqueous environment, a key advance if metathesis is to reveal its full potential in biological, polymeric, and pharmaceutical applications. We specifically aim to target treatments for cataract (and other conditions associated with an aging populatio ....New clean and green aqueous metathesis. The technique of olefin metathesis has already yielded new pharmaceuticals and materials for use in consumer products and ballistic protection. This project will help move metathesis into the realms of natures aqueous environment, a key advance if metathesis is to reveal its full potential in biological, polymeric, and pharmaceutical applications. We specifically aim to target treatments for cataract (and other conditions associated with an aging population) and also important new biopolymers for use in health technologies of the future.Read moreRead less
Investigation of novel sialic acid mimetics to target the spread of cancer. The mortality rates for many cancers afflicting the world's population are extremely high and these rates are consistent with the Australian experience. It is generally accepted that colon cancer, and cancers as a whole, are a significant healthcare issue and have immense socioeconomic impact. Alternative treatments preventing the spread of cancers would be of very significant benefit. This fellowship will provide the ....Investigation of novel sialic acid mimetics to target the spread of cancer. The mortality rates for many cancers afflicting the world's population are extremely high and these rates are consistent with the Australian experience. It is generally accepted that colon cancer, and cancers as a whole, are a significant healthcare issue and have immense socioeconomic impact. Alternative treatments preventing the spread of cancers would be of very significant benefit. This fellowship will provide the opportunity for the discovery and development of such treatments that are based on the processes that utilise carbohydrates to facilitate the spread of tumours.Read moreRead less
Conformationally constrained and immobilized beta-peptides. The research builds on world-class expertise in Australia (particularly Adelaide) in proteomics to provide a basis for fundamental advances in chemistry that will underpin the development of new pharmaceuticals and smart materials, and future technologies and industries. We create a mix of research at the interface of disciplines within academia and industry, with linkages to the very best international researchers and centres. A new cr ....Conformationally constrained and immobilized beta-peptides. The research builds on world-class expertise in Australia (particularly Adelaide) in proteomics to provide a basis for fundamental advances in chemistry that will underpin the development of new pharmaceuticals and smart materials, and future technologies and industries. We create a mix of research at the interface of disciplines within academia and industry, with linkages to the very best international researchers and centres. A new critical mass of expertise in a number of advancing areas of chemistry, biology, and materials science will be introduced to Australia. This will enhance existing strengths and opportunities in proteomics and biomedical research for the treatment of disease.Read moreRead less
Gas phase studies of the interactions of electrons with peptide ions: structure assignment and fundamentals. Electron-induced reactions are fundamental to a wide range of processes that underlie many areas of science and technology, ranging from planetary atmospheres, industrial plasmas to living tissues. Since ionizing radiation is believed to be a major cause of damage to living cells, understanding electron interactions with biological molecules is essential to predict the consequences of ex ....Gas phase studies of the interactions of electrons with peptide ions: structure assignment and fundamentals. Electron-induced reactions are fundamental to a wide range of processes that underlie many areas of science and technology, ranging from planetary atmospheres, industrial plasmas to living tissues. Since ionizing radiation is believed to be a major cause of damage to living cells, understanding electron interactions with biological molecules is essential to predict the consequences of exposure. Structure determination of biomolecules is at the heart of identifying, diagnosing and potentially developing treatments for diseases, and thus another important reason for studying these interactions is the potential to develop new mass spectrometry based analytical methods.Read moreRead less
New Membrane Methods to Extract Lactose From Waste Dairy Streams. Dairy processors throughout the world produce about 145,000,000 t of liquid whey per year. Lactose, the principle component in cheese whey, contributes a significant pollution problem for dairy processors. The aim of this Linkage Award application is to develop membranes that selectively extract the lactose. This requires the preparation of membrane carriers that transport the lactose through the membrane. The development of new a ....New Membrane Methods to Extract Lactose From Waste Dairy Streams. Dairy processors throughout the world produce about 145,000,000 t of liquid whey per year. Lactose, the principle component in cheese whey, contributes a significant pollution problem for dairy processors. The aim of this Linkage Award application is to develop membranes that selectively extract the lactose. This requires the preparation of membrane carriers that transport the lactose through the membrane. The development of new approaches and technologies for the isolation and purification of lactose from feed streams may lead to improved processes for manufacture of purified lactose or new lactose products.Read moreRead less
Electrochemistry of redox-active non-metal compounds. Unsaturated compounds of heavier non-metal elements can exist in multiple stable redox states. The interconversion is best assessed by electrochemical techniques, which can measure the energetics and the mechanism of the redox processes involved in both solution and solid state phases. Compounds to be studied will be prepared in the Canadian laboratories of the partner investigator. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties ....Electrochemistry of redox-active non-metal compounds. Unsaturated compounds of heavier non-metal elements can exist in multiple stable redox states. The interconversion is best assessed by electrochemical techniques, which can measure the energetics and the mechanism of the redox processes involved in both solution and solid state phases. Compounds to be studied will be prepared in the Canadian laboratories of the partner investigator. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties will initially be investigated in Australia during the visit of the partner investigator to Monash University with follow up studies in both countries. The mutual skills of synthesis and electrochemistry in the Canadian-Australian laboratories are essential to the project.Read moreRead less
Nanostructures of Titanium Dioxide and Titanates by Wet-chemistry. One-dimensional (1D) nanoparticulates of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and titanate synthesized by wet-chemistry approaches are new advanced materials of unusual properties. This project will investigate the formation and phase transition mechanism of these 1D particulates by various techniques. With such knowledge, we can effectively control the morphology on a scale of nanometers, and tailor the energy gap of these materials. This wi ....Nanostructures of Titanium Dioxide and Titanates by Wet-chemistry. One-dimensional (1D) nanoparticulates of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and titanate synthesized by wet-chemistry approaches are new advanced materials of unusual properties. This project will investigate the formation and phase transition mechanism of these 1D particulates by various techniques. With such knowledge, we can effectively control the morphology on a scale of nanometers, and tailor the energy gap of these materials. This will significantly influence the photosemiconductive photocatalytic and lithium ions insertion behaviours of the particles so that advanced materials for solar energy conversion, photocatalysts for decomposing organic pollutants in environment, eletrode materials of lithium batteries can be developed.Read moreRead less