The effect of methylation and phosphorylation on ribosome function. This project aims to discover how cells regulate ribosome function and selectivity, by modifying their ribosomal proteins. This affects protein synthesis, a process which is central to the growth of all living things. Expected outcomes include new knowledge on the regulation of protein synthesis, improved techniques for the study of this process and an enhanced capacity for international collaboration. New avenues for the artifi ....The effect of methylation and phosphorylation on ribosome function. This project aims to discover how cells regulate ribosome function and selectivity, by modifying their ribosomal proteins. This affects protein synthesis, a process which is central to the growth of all living things. Expected outcomes include new knowledge on the regulation of protein synthesis, improved techniques for the study of this process and an enhanced capacity for international collaboration. New avenues for the artificial regulation of the ribosome may also emerge, relevant to synthetic biology and the engineering of industrial yeasts. The project should provide significant new findings for the research community, generate research citations and contribute to a highly skilled workforce by the training of staff and students.Read moreRead less
How do protein quality control mechanisms maintain neuronal ageing? This project aims to interrogate how mechanisms of protein quality control act in the brain - an organ that is particularly vulnerable to a high load of misfolded protein - to maintain normal physiology during ageing. This project expects to make advances in cellular biochemistry and neuroscience, using an innovative proximity labelling approach to identify quality control regulators in neurons that specifically engage with misf ....How do protein quality control mechanisms maintain neuronal ageing? This project aims to interrogate how mechanisms of protein quality control act in the brain - an organ that is particularly vulnerable to a high load of misfolded protein - to maintain normal physiology during ageing. This project expects to make advances in cellular biochemistry and neuroscience, using an innovative proximity labelling approach to identify quality control regulators in neurons that specifically engage with misfolded proteins during ageing, within the nervous system of a living animal. Expected outcomes of this project will generate new knowledge of brain physiology and ageing relevant to all animals. This should provide significant benefits, such as a greater understanding of long-term brain functions including memory.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms of memory function involving site-specific tau phosphorylation. This project aims to understand the molecular principles that facilitate encoding, maintenance and retrieval of memories in the brain. To store memories in brain circuits, electrical and chemical signals are crucial. Brain cells can integrate signals into biochemical modifications of intracellular proteins. The nature of the protein modifications that represent memory within brain cells is unknown. This project uses innov ....Mechanisms of memory function involving site-specific tau phosphorylation. This project aims to understand the molecular principles that facilitate encoding, maintenance and retrieval of memories in the brain. To store memories in brain circuits, electrical and chemical signals are crucial. Brain cells can integrate signals into biochemical modifications of intracellular proteins. The nature of the protein modifications that represent memory within brain cells is unknown. This project uses innovative genome editing, mathematical modelling and proteomic approaches, to study how biochemical modifications of a key protein called tau help encode and retrieve memories. These molecular insights will make a significant advance in the current understanding of a brain function that is essential to all human activities.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100894
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$365,058.00
Summary
Molecular mechanisms of equine fertility and early recognition of pregnancy. This project aims to identify biomarkers of stallion fertility and early pregnancy in thoroughbred and Standardbred horses using biochemistry, proteomics and ribonucleic acid analyses. Responding to industry calls for improved methods of detecting and managing infertility in both stallions and mares, this project will connect Australian horse breeders and international clinical experts with the world renowned reproducti ....Molecular mechanisms of equine fertility and early recognition of pregnancy. This project aims to identify biomarkers of stallion fertility and early pregnancy in thoroughbred and Standardbred horses using biochemistry, proteomics and ribonucleic acid analyses. Responding to industry calls for improved methods of detecting and managing infertility in both stallions and mares, this project will connect Australian horse breeders and international clinical experts with the world renowned reproductive Priority Research Centre with the intended outcome of novel reproductive technologies and diagnostic tests. This should both secure international competitiveness and significantly enhance profitability and employment in this culturally significant industry.Read moreRead less
Illuminating the dark neutrophil glycoproteome. This project aims to shed light on the highly complex and dynamic sugar-coated surfaces of neutrophil white blood cells critical for the cell communication and function of our innate immune system. The project expects to generate molecular-level insights into neutrophil biology by detailing the structure, formation, regulation, interactions and functions of these cell-surface sugars across the varied neutrophil life stages using systems glycobiolog ....Illuminating the dark neutrophil glycoproteome. This project aims to shed light on the highly complex and dynamic sugar-coated surfaces of neutrophil white blood cells critical for the cell communication and function of our innate immune system. The project expects to generate molecular-level insights into neutrophil biology by detailing the structure, formation, regulation, interactions and functions of these cell-surface sugars across the varied neutrophil life stages using systems glycobiology approaches. The project will map the extensive sugar remodelling on and in the neutrophil and reveal new sugar-mediated mechanisms governing key immune processes. This project will benefit the community by expanding our knowledge of fundamental processes underpinning our innate immune system.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL200100096
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,367,940.00
Summary
Mapping the genetic and lifestyle landscape of Healthy Ageing. This project aims to dissect how genes interact with the environment to control healthy ageing using a multidisciplinary approach combining state-of-the-art omics technologies, metabolic and ageing phenotyping and genetic analysis and a highly diverse model system. The project is expected to establish fundamental new understanding of the ageing process by identifying genes that regulate ageing either alone or in response to diet; by ....Mapping the genetic and lifestyle landscape of Healthy Ageing. This project aims to dissect how genes interact with the environment to control healthy ageing using a multidisciplinary approach combining state-of-the-art omics technologies, metabolic and ageing phenotyping and genetic analysis and a highly diverse model system. The project is expected to establish fundamental new understanding of the ageing process by identifying genes that regulate ageing either alone or in response to diet; by defining the mechanism by which such genes control ageing and by identifying biomarkers that predict different ageing outcomes. This knowledge will contribute to future strategies based on genetic testing and biomarkers to optimise healthy ageing in humans. Read moreRead less
Single cell glycomics: mapping the surface glycan signature of cells. This project aims to develop a platform technology for multiplexed glycan mapping of the surface of a single cell to address challenges of functional glycomics by utilising a conceptually new approach. By combining newly designed plasmonic nanoparticles with surface-enhanced Raman scattering tags and multiple specific carbohydrate-recognising lectins, this project expects to produce a generic technology that is capable of non- ....Single cell glycomics: mapping the surface glycan signature of cells. This project aims to develop a platform technology for multiplexed glycan mapping of the surface of a single cell to address challenges of functional glycomics by utilising a conceptually new approach. By combining newly designed plasmonic nanoparticles with surface-enhanced Raman scattering tags and multiple specific carbohydrate-recognising lectins, this project expects to produce a generic technology that is capable of non-destructive barcoding of the surface glycan signature of single cells in their native state and in response to metabolic perturbations. Expected project outcomes include advancing knowledge in nanobiotechnology, glycobiology and cell biology by being able to easily monitor changes to the surface of single cells.Read moreRead less
Control of developmental switches by importin 5. Aims: This project will study a key molecular switch called IPO5, a protein that is required for cells and organs to form and function normally, and it will reveal how it works.
Significance: These experiments will provide the first complete description of how this molecular switch controls the behaviour of a cell across its lifespan. IPO5 is highly conserved, so these studies will be relevant to a wide range of animals.
Expected Outcomes: This k ....Control of developmental switches by importin 5. Aims: This project will study a key molecular switch called IPO5, a protein that is required for cells and organs to form and function normally, and it will reveal how it works.
Significance: These experiments will provide the first complete description of how this molecular switch controls the behaviour of a cell across its lifespan. IPO5 is highly conserved, so these studies will be relevant to a wide range of animals.
Expected Outcomes: This knowledge will reveal how IPO5 controls formation of sperm by revealing what other proteins it binds to and how this affects cell signaling and responses to the environment.
Benefits: This will provide information about potential interventions to control fertility or to repair abnormal cells.
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Intelligent bioprocessing for next-generation nutritional yeast extracts. This project aims to provide new, science-based levers for optimising the industrial production of tailormade yeast extracts for food applications. Advanced biochemical and engineering methods will be used to develop new knowledge of the links between yeast growth conditions, cell biochemistry, processing and the flavour and texture profiles of yeast hydrolysates. This understanding will allow the properties of yeast hydro ....Intelligent bioprocessing for next-generation nutritional yeast extracts. This project aims to provide new, science-based levers for optimising the industrial production of tailormade yeast extracts for food applications. Advanced biochemical and engineering methods will be used to develop new knowledge of the links between yeast growth conditions, cell biochemistry, processing and the flavour and texture profiles of yeast hydrolysates. This understanding will allow the properties of yeast hydrolysates to be accurately tuned during yeast production and processing. The resulting process improvements and innovations will increase the efficiency and quality of current yeast extract products and allow the development of new food products.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE240100134
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$796,206.00
Summary
Super-resolution platform to accelerate biological and molecular research. This application aims to establish a new molecular analysis platform integrating a microfluid capillary electrophoresis interface directly to a mass spectrometer with advanced data scanning technology. This enables label-free detection, quantitation and characterisation of intact proteins, lipids and metabolites with unprecedented sensitivity, resolution and throughput. It will enhance ARC projects spanning natural produc ....Super-resolution platform to accelerate biological and molecular research. This application aims to establish a new molecular analysis platform integrating a microfluid capillary electrophoresis interface directly to a mass spectrometer with advanced data scanning technology. This enables label-free detection, quantitation and characterisation of intact proteins, lipids and metabolites with unprecedented sensitivity, resolution and throughput. It will enhance ARC projects spanning natural product discovery, biotechnology, agriculture, and animal, plant and marine biology, as well as single-cell proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics. It will ensure Australia remains at the forefront of molecular and biological research and create new training and collaborative opportunities both nationally and internationally.Read moreRead less