Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237664
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$900,000.00
Summary
High Resolution Mass Spectrometer for (MS)n Chemical Characterisation. A Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance ("FT-ICR") mass spectrometer equipped with electrospray ionisation (ESI) plus a "benchtop" matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometer are required to support the research of ca 28 research groups, including 44 postdoctoral fellows, and 138 honours and postgraduate students. By means of its high resolution and (MS)n capabilities, the FT- ....High Resolution Mass Spectrometer for (MS)n Chemical Characterisation. A Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance ("FT-ICR") mass spectrometer equipped with electrospray ionisation (ESI) plus a "benchtop" matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometer are required to support the research of ca 28 research groups, including 44 postdoctoral fellows, and 138 honours and postgraduate students. By means of its high resolution and (MS)n capabilities, the FT-ICR-MS will provide key structural information on a wide range of synthetic and natural chemical substances, including sequence (e.g. peptides) and fragmentation patterns, while the MALDI-TOF instrument will be used primarily for high through-put proteomic analyses.Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional structures, substrate specificities and catalytic mechanisms of polysaccharide synthases. Plant wall polysaccharides are extensively used for food and fibre, and are important dietary components in human nutrition. A precise knowledge of mechanisms used by plants to synthesize these polysaccharides is unavailable, but would reveal potential routes to manipulate their biosynthesis in important crop species. For example, the levels or structures of polysaccharides might be modif ....Three-dimensional structures, substrate specificities and catalytic mechanisms of polysaccharide synthases. Plant wall polysaccharides are extensively used for food and fibre, and are important dietary components in human nutrition. A precise knowledge of mechanisms used by plants to synthesize these polysaccharides is unavailable, but would reveal potential routes to manipulate their biosynthesis in important crop species. For example, the levels or structures of polysaccharides might be modified to improve their efficacy as anti-cancer agents in human diets, to enhance digestibility of animal stock feeds, or to synthesise pharmologically valuable compounds. Thus, economic, social and environmental benefits will flow to both producers and consumers. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100118
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy facilities for the Sydney region. The determination of molecular structure is crucial in the chemical and biomolecular sciences, leading to the development of new drugs and other types of molecules and providing an understanding of how molecules interact with each other. The requested equipment will provide the ability for researchers in the Sydney region to advance our knowledge at this fundamental level by expanding the number and types of experiments th ....Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy facilities for the Sydney region. The determination of molecular structure is crucial in the chemical and biomolecular sciences, leading to the development of new drugs and other types of molecules and providing an understanding of how molecules interact with each other. The requested equipment will provide the ability for researchers in the Sydney region to advance our knowledge at this fundamental level by expanding the number and types of experiments that can be performed.Read moreRead less
In vitro evolution of more thermostable dextranases for the Australian sugar industry. Dextrans are polysaccharides that adversely affect the productivity of sugarcane mills. The Australian sugar industry currently imports dextranases to deal with this problem but they are not heat stable so the mills have run at lower temperatures than optimal. We have isolated dextranases from thermophilic microorganisms and aim to improve their performance by generating superior heat-stable dextranases using ....In vitro evolution of more thermostable dextranases for the Australian sugar industry. Dextrans are polysaccharides that adversely affect the productivity of sugarcane mills. The Australian sugar industry currently imports dextranases to deal with this problem but they are not heat stable so the mills have run at lower temperatures than optimal. We have isolated dextranases from thermophilic microorganisms and aim to improve their performance by generating superior heat-stable dextranases using in vitro evolution, creating new activity levels by random mutation and recombination. The research will be significant in providing novel enzymes for domestic use, allowing import substitution and an outcome will be the development of a product with export potential.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100135
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
Federated single crystal X-ray structural analysis facility. X-ray crystallography is the most widely applied method for the determination of three-dimensional molecular structures. These structures range in size from small systems such as materials and pharmaceuticals through to large biological structures such as proteins. This application will provide a multidisciplinary facility covering the structural characterisation needs of chemistry, pharmacy, biology, and medicine. This will position l ....Federated single crystal X-ray structural analysis facility. X-ray crystallography is the most widely applied method for the determination of three-dimensional molecular structures. These structures range in size from small systems such as materials and pharmaceuticals through to large biological structures such as proteins. This application will provide a multidisciplinary facility covering the structural characterisation needs of chemistry, pharmacy, biology, and medicine. This will position local universities for key scientific breakthroughs that benefit the Australian community by providing improved healthcare technologies, and processes. Furthermore, access to this world-class facility will provide state-of-the-art training for undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354775
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Australian Synchrotron Sciences Network. A synchrotron light source is a critical piece of infrastructure for a modern technological nation. In 2001, the Victorian government announced that it would contribute $157M towards the establishment of a national synchrotron facility, becoming operational in 2007. The research performed at such a facility is exceedingly diverse, and often the underpinning technology is the only point of contact for users. A vibrant and productive facility requires a tra ....Australian Synchrotron Sciences Network. A synchrotron light source is a critical piece of infrastructure for a modern technological nation. In 2001, the Victorian government announced that it would contribute $157M towards the establishment of a national synchrotron facility, becoming operational in 2007. The research performed at such a facility is exceedingly diverse, and often the underpinning technology is the only point of contact for users. A vibrant and productive facility requires a transparent interface between the scientist and the technology. This Network will set up the communication channels within the user base, and between the users and the facility development program.Read moreRead less
Synthesis, Biological Interactions and Toxicity Studies of Precisely Engineered Nanoparticles. The proposed benefits of nanotechnology for industries from material sciences, to bioengineering, energy and the environment are currently driving unprecedented growth in this technology world-wide. Some of these benefits are borne out of the unique properties that different nanoparticles exhibit. However, if nanomaterials pose a threat to the health and well-being of the community, then their risks ....Synthesis, Biological Interactions and Toxicity Studies of Precisely Engineered Nanoparticles. The proposed benefits of nanotechnology for industries from material sciences, to bioengineering, energy and the environment are currently driving unprecedented growth in this technology world-wide. Some of these benefits are borne out of the unique properties that different nanoparticles exhibit. However, if nanomaterials pose a threat to the health and well-being of the community, then their risks may outweigh their benefits. This project will identify those characteristics of nanoparticles that can lead to adverse effects and therefore pose a danger to the general community. By defining these characteristics, appropriate changes in nanomaterial production can be considered by industry to minimise these dangers.Read moreRead less
Allosteric regulation, molecular structure and function of transglutaminase 2. With Australia's ageing population, we can expect to see increasing prevalence of pathologies such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and cataracts. The ubiquitous enzyme transglutaminase 2 (TG2) has been implicated in all of these age-related diseases, as well as in chronic disorders such as coeliac disease and diabetes, and may contribute in a positive way to wound healing. Understanding how TG2 is activated and inac ....Allosteric regulation, molecular structure and function of transglutaminase 2. With Australia's ageing population, we can expect to see increasing prevalence of pathologies such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and cataracts. The ubiquitous enzyme transglutaminase 2 (TG2) has been implicated in all of these age-related diseases, as well as in chronic disorders such as coeliac disease and diabetes, and may contribute in a positive way to wound healing. Understanding how TG2 is activated and inactivated, and how it selects its targets, will be a critical addition to current knowledge of this enzyme, and will be an essential prerequisite for the development of TG2-targetted drugs and other TG2-related therapies.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775590
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
A single crystal X-ray diffractometer with CCD detector for structural analysis of small molecules. In recent years their have been major advances in the capacity of instrumentation to determine the crystal and molecular structure of chemical compounds and materials which in turn has resulted in a rapidly growing understanding of the relationship between the structure of molecules and their function in the design of new materials and as drugs for the treatment of disease and pain. This infrastr ....A single crystal X-ray diffractometer with CCD detector for structural analysis of small molecules. In recent years their have been major advances in the capacity of instrumentation to determine the crystal and molecular structure of chemical compounds and materials which in turn has resulted in a rapidly growing understanding of the relationship between the structure of molecules and their function in the design of new materials and as drugs for the treatment of disease and pain. This infrastructure also provides training of an international standard for undergraduate and post graduate students, thus building the skills capabilities of Australian scientists in the workforce.Read moreRead less
A genomic and phenomic investigation of a mitochondrial glutathione transferase. The aim of this study is to understand of the genomics, structure and function of glutathione transferase Kappa (GSTK), a novel GST found in mitochondria. The investigations will achieve several outcomes. (1)an understanding of the organisation of GSTK gene(s) in humans and mice; (2) determination of the role of GSTK in mitochondria, by investigating the phenotype of knockout mice; (3) determination of the crysta ....A genomic and phenomic investigation of a mitochondrial glutathione transferase. The aim of this study is to understand of the genomics, structure and function of glutathione transferase Kappa (GSTK), a novel GST found in mitochondria. The investigations will achieve several outcomes. (1)an understanding of the organisation of GSTK gene(s) in humans and mice; (2) determination of the role of GSTK in mitochondria, by investigating the phenotype of knockout mice; (3) determination of the crystal structure of human GSTK; (4) An understanding of GSTK's substrate specificity, reaction kinetics and structure/function relationships. Since GSTK is confined to mitochondria, and may not be related to other GSTs, we may also identify novel functionsRead moreRead less