STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND REGULATION OF F-TYPE ATP SYNTHASES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$544,660.00
Summary
ATP synthase is the molecular machinery that converts energy derived from nutrients or photosynthesis into the universal biological energy carrier ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This is one of the most fundamental processes of life and is conserved from bacteria to plants to humans. Understanding how bacterial and mitochondrial ATP synthases work in molecular detail will have wide-ranging implications for both medicine (in understanding metabolic disorders, controlled cell death and aging) and th ....ATP synthase is the molecular machinery that converts energy derived from nutrients or photosynthesis into the universal biological energy carrier ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This is one of the most fundamental processes of life and is conserved from bacteria to plants to humans. Understanding how bacterial and mitochondrial ATP synthases work in molecular detail will have wide-ranging implications for both medicine (in understanding metabolic disorders, controlled cell death and aging) and the design of new antibacterial agents.Read moreRead less
Imaging The Machinery Of Bacterial Locomotion At Atomic Resolution
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,732.00
Summary
Our aim is to a) understand and b) sabotage the machinery of locomotion in bacteria. The flagellar motor propels bacteria at 100s of revolutions per second through viscous media making this the most powerful motor known to man. Bacteria can sense their environment and make informed decisions to avoid hazards or find food. Understanding how this machinery works in atomic detail is expected to have implications for both the development of new antibacterials and in the area of nano-medicine.
Structure, Function And Dynamics Of ATP Synthases And Rotary Proton Pumps
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$923,020.00
Summary
ATP synthase is the molecular machinery that converts energy derived from nutrients or photosynthesis into the universal biological fuel source ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This is one of the most fundamental processes of life and is conserved from bacteria to plants to humans. Understanding how ATP synthase and its relatives work in molecular detail is expected to have wide-ranging implications for both medicine (in understanding metabolic disorders) and the design of new antibacterial agents.
Many drugs modulate the function of proteins imbedded in cell membranes. Extensive research has been undertaken to better understand drug interactions with these proteins to improve drug therapies, but there has been relatively little progress in understanding the role of the cell membrane. This project will investigate how the cell membrane influences protein function and then use this information to develop novel drugs for the treatment of neurological disorders.
The Structural Basis For Glutamate Transporter Function
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,144.00
Summary
Glutamate transporters are vacuum cleaners in the brain that suck the neurotransmitter glutamate into cells. When the glutamate vacuum breaks down or becomes blocked, glutamate levels outside cells increase, leading to cell death in the brain. This process underlies the damage in many brain diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and stroke. The aim of this project is to understand the mechanism of the glutamate vacuum cleaner so we can develop therapeutics to fix it when it breaks down.
Roles Of Annexins In Schistosome Surface Homeostasis And Host-parasite Interactions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,885.00
Summary
With the increasing occurrence of the debilitating tropical disease schistosomiasis due to climate change, novel therapeutics are in demand. Current therapies rely on treatment with a single drug, and require repeated application. In this timely study, we will elucidate the role of surface-associated proteins, hypothesised to be the crucial stabilising factor in the body wall of the blood-feeding worm schistosome that protects the parasite. Targetting these proteins will lead to new therapeutics ....With the increasing occurrence of the debilitating tropical disease schistosomiasis due to climate change, novel therapeutics are in demand. Current therapies rely on treatment with a single drug, and require repeated application. In this timely study, we will elucidate the role of surface-associated proteins, hypothesised to be the crucial stabilising factor in the body wall of the blood-feeding worm schistosome that protects the parasite. Targetting these proteins will lead to new therapeutics against schistosomiasis.Read moreRead less
The Role Of Intracellular Protein Trafficking In Alzheimer's Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Summary
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurological disorder and is the most common cause of dementia. The development of therapies must be preceded by a thorough understanding of the molecular processes that underpin the disease. In this project we will examine the interactions between the Alzheimer’s precursor protein (APP) and the molecular machinery that controls its intracellular localization and breakdown to the toxic A? peptide that is central to disease pathology.
Membrane Attachment And Components Of The Ca2+ -triggered Release Mechanism
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,498.00
Summary
Understanding and harnessing the fundamental cellular process of secretion will provide a wealth of new approaches to addressing problems associated with aging & disorders that are major health care burdens (e.g. neurodegeneration & diabetes). Understanding the vesicle docked state, and the contributions of different molecular components to the release process provides for unique insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms, thereby enabling safe, targeted control of this critical process.
The Molecular Basis For Manganese Uptake By Pathogenic Bacteria.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$632,949.00
Summary
Bacterial antimicrobial resistance is an increasing threat to human health. At this point in time, there is an urgent, fundamental need for the development of new antimicrobial strategies. Bacterial infection involves a constant tug-of-war between the pathogen and the human host for the essential nutrients of life, including trace metal nutrients such as Mn. This project seeks to understand the machinery for Mn uptake by pathogenic bacteria as a target for novel antibacterial design.
A Signalling Endosomal Network In T Cell Activation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$428,016.00
Summary
T lymphocytes play a central role in the adaptive immune response, which specifically targets pathogens and cancer cells and creates the immunological memory. Activation of sometimes as little as one single receptor on a T cell triggers a cellular signal that rapidly expands and branches out in a multitude of sub-signals. Here we will use a combination of novel microscopy approaches to visualise how a network of dedicated intracellular compartments is in charge of these processes.