Mass Spectrometric Investigations of Conformation and Dynamics of Biological Complexes. The new collaboration between the leading mass spectrometry groups at University Wollongong and Cambridge University will benefit both partners. Researchers at Wollongong will have access to an ion mobility mass spectrometry technology not currently available in Australia that will contribute to our understanding of complicated cellular processes such as chromosome replication. The researchers' experience wit ....Mass Spectrometric Investigations of Conformation and Dynamics of Biological Complexes. The new collaboration between the leading mass spectrometry groups at University Wollongong and Cambridge University will benefit both partners. Researchers at Wollongong will have access to an ion mobility mass spectrometry technology not currently available in Australia that will contribute to our understanding of complicated cellular processes such as chromosome replication. The researchers' experience with this technology will pave the way for introduction of the technology to Australia and benefit the wider scientific community in wide-ranging projects such as development of new antibiotics and vaccines. Students from both institutions will benefit from experiencing science from an international perspective.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence - Coherent X-ray Science. The twenty first century is said to be the century of biology. And there is no doubt that the development of our understanding of biological system is continuing at a massive rate. However as our understanding deepens, we need to draw on the whole range of scientific disciplines to proceed. This Centre draws together a multidisciplinary team of world-leading scientists to address one the key questions in modern biology, the structure of a membra ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Coherent X-ray Science. The twenty first century is said to be the century of biology. And there is no doubt that the development of our understanding of biological system is continuing at a massive rate. However as our understanding deepens, we need to draw on the whole range of scientific disciplines to proceed. This Centre draws together a multidisciplinary team of world-leading scientists to address one the key questions in modern biology, the structure of a membrane protein. We will develop techniques based on the latest developments in theoretical physics & chemistry, imaging, biology and technology - including the new Australian Synchrotron - to create new approaches to structural biology.Read moreRead less
Membrane structure and lipid interactions of the pore-forming toxin Equinatoxin II by NMR. The structure of Equinatoxin II, a pore-forming protein, will be determined in model cell membranes using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The relationship of molecular structure to bioactivity and the nature of the pore-forming mechanism of this toxin will be determined. The results will aid in understanding how toxins lyse cells and could lead to the design of improved antibiotic peptides. Currently the st ....Membrane structure and lipid interactions of the pore-forming toxin Equinatoxin II by NMR. The structure of Equinatoxin II, a pore-forming protein, will be determined in model cell membranes using solid-state NMR spectroscopy. The relationship of molecular structure to bioactivity and the nature of the pore-forming mechanism of this toxin will be determined. The results will aid in understanding how toxins lyse cells and could lead to the design of improved antibiotic peptides. Currently the structure of membrane proteins are difficult to determine and the newly developed techniques used for the structural determination of this membrane-associated protein will be suitable for studying other membrane proteins and receptors of pharmaceutical importance.Read moreRead less
Immunomodulatory compounds in marsupial milk. This project aims to isolate and identify unique compounds in marsupial milk that have the capacity to influence immune function. Such compounds have the potential to contribute to both human and animal health and be of both scientific and commercial benefit and could potentially be of value in the treatment of premature and immunologically compromised humans. The project also highlights and exploits the unique research opportunity afforded by the ex ....Immunomodulatory compounds in marsupial milk. This project aims to isolate and identify unique compounds in marsupial milk that have the capacity to influence immune function. Such compounds have the potential to contribute to both human and animal health and be of both scientific and commercial benefit and could potentially be of value in the treatment of premature and immunologically compromised humans. The project also highlights and exploits the unique research opportunity afforded by the extrauterine development of marsupials.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346903
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
LC-MS system for Faculty of Sciences, U.N.E. LC-MS is a technique for investigating the composition of complex mixtures and identifying its components. This instrumentation will be utilised at UNE in a diverse range of analytical investigations to further the research aims of scientists in chemistry, biological sciences, archaeology, physics, environmental sciences, marine science as well as biological researchers in specialised units based at UNE. The extraordinarily versatile capacity of this ....LC-MS system for Faculty of Sciences, U.N.E. LC-MS is a technique for investigating the composition of complex mixtures and identifying its components. This instrumentation will be utilised at UNE in a diverse range of analytical investigations to further the research aims of scientists in chemistry, biological sciences, archaeology, physics, environmental sciences, marine science as well as biological researchers in specialised units based at UNE. The extraordinarily versatile capacity of this technique for analysis and identification of organic substances, from small molecules through to large proteins and complex plant and animal metabolites, will provide impetus for existing research and stimulus for new research directions.Read moreRead less
Membrane interactions and neurotoxicity of Amyloid Abeta peptides from Alzheimer's disease. A consequence of the increase in human life span is that age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are more prevalent. Currently there are limited therapeutic treatments and no cure for AD. The key protein causing AD is Abeta and characterization of the toxic species of this peptide is critical towards identifying potential therapeutic targets. This proposal aims to study mut ....Membrane interactions and neurotoxicity of Amyloid Abeta peptides from Alzheimer's disease. A consequence of the increase in human life span is that age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are more prevalent. Currently there are limited therapeutic treatments and no cure for AD. The key protein causing AD is Abeta and characterization of the toxic species of this peptide is critical towards identifying potential therapeutic targets. This proposal aims to study mutant peptides made synthetically and to identify a membrane-binding site. By establishing which lipid is critically involved in membrane binding of Abeta and mediating subsequent cell death, drugs may be developed to prevent the binding of Abeta to membranes resulting in neuronal survival and prevention of memory loss in AD patients.Read moreRead less
Gas Phase Dynamics of a Biological Molecular Machine: Fundamentals, Stoichiometries and Stabilities. Over the last twenty years advanced molecular measurement techniques have enabled the characterization of individual biological molecules (proteins and DNA) within different types of cells and diseased tissues. This project uses a new technique that literally "weighs" groups of proteins and/or DNA to help us understand how such large molecules fit together and function within cells (sometimes ref ....Gas Phase Dynamics of a Biological Molecular Machine: Fundamentals, Stoichiometries and Stabilities. Over the last twenty years advanced molecular measurement techniques have enabled the characterization of individual biological molecules (proteins and DNA) within different types of cells and diseased tissues. This project uses a new technique that literally "weighs" groups of proteins and/or DNA to help us understand how such large molecules fit together and function within cells (sometimes referred to as molecular machinery). More detailed knowledge of processes such as those involved in copying DNA when new cells are produced will, in the long term, improve our understanding and treatment of conditions or diseases that result from errors in molecular machinery. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668017
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,047,000.00
Summary
Membrane Protein Structure and Interaction Facility. While it is estimated that a third of the human genome encodes for membrane proteins, the structures of only relatively few membrane proteins are currently known. It will be some time before membrane protein structure determination becomes routine, yet over 50% of the drugs on the market today rely on the activity of membrane proteins for their efficacy. This application seeks to establish a Membrane Protein Structure and Interaction Facility ....Membrane Protein Structure and Interaction Facility. While it is estimated that a third of the human genome encodes for membrane proteins, the structures of only relatively few membrane proteins are currently known. It will be some time before membrane protein structure determination becomes routine, yet over 50% of the drugs on the market today rely on the activity of membrane proteins for their efficacy. This application seeks to establish a Membrane Protein Structure and Interaction Facility for the development and application of novel techniques and approaches to study the structure and interactions of membrane proteins. Research progress will be greatly enhanced by the establishment of this dedicated facility with cutting-edge technologies for the study of membrane proteins.Read moreRead less
Antifreeze Proteins and Glycoproteins. Antifreeze proteins and glycoproteins permit many species of fish to survive in sub-zero oceans without freezing. These antifreeze compounds have potential applications in the frozen food industry (eg. maintaining the texture of ice cream), medical science (eg., cryosurgery) and veterinary science (eg. storage of sperm). Commercial applications are limited by the amounts of compounds available from fish and the lack of understanding of how these proteins ....Antifreeze Proteins and Glycoproteins. Antifreeze proteins and glycoproteins permit many species of fish to survive in sub-zero oceans without freezing. These antifreeze compounds have potential applications in the frozen food industry (eg. maintaining the texture of ice cream), medical science (eg., cryosurgery) and veterinary science (eg. storage of sperm). Commercial applications are limited by the amounts of compounds available from fish and the lack of understanding of how these proteins work. This research will study how natural and synthetic antifreezes inhibit ice growth in order to allow the rational design of new antifreezes and will identify new compounds with potential commercial applications as cryoprotectants.Read moreRead less
Structure and activity of host-defence peptides from Australian anurans: anticancer agents, neuropeptides and nNOS inhibitors. We have discovered peptides that may have clinical applications. This is significant as these molecules may have one or more of the following properties. They may have anti-cancer effects; they may increase the effectiveness of the immune system by enhancing lymphocyte formation; and, they may act to reduce inflammation, stroke or cardiac conditions by controlling nitri ....Structure and activity of host-defence peptides from Australian anurans: anticancer agents, neuropeptides and nNOS inhibitors. We have discovered peptides that may have clinical applications. This is significant as these molecules may have one or more of the following properties. They may have anti-cancer effects; they may increase the effectiveness of the immune system by enhancing lymphocyte formation; and, they may act to reduce inflammation, stroke or cardiac conditions by controlling nitric oxide formation. Another national benefit is that personnel involved in this project are trained to the highest international standards in peptide chemistry/mass spectrometry/nuclear magnetic resonance: currently, there are not enough trained scientists in this area to meet demand.Read moreRead less