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
Molecular Interactions of Chemical Agents with Ion-Channel Proteins. With a minimal number of functional units (proteins) viruses are able to replicate. All of these proteins are possible antiviral targets. In this project we wil1 focus on a short protein called Vpu found in membranes of the HIV-1 virus and aim to analyse the interaction of potential pore blocking compounds. It is essential to know exactly where they sit and how the overall structure of Vpu is affected. For this enterprise we wi ....Molecular Interactions of Chemical Agents with Ion-Channel Proteins. With a minimal number of functional units (proteins) viruses are able to replicate. All of these proteins are possible antiviral targets. In this project we wil1 focus on a short protein called Vpu found in membranes of the HIV-1 virus and aim to analyse the interaction of potential pore blocking compounds. It is essential to know exactly where they sit and how the overall structure of Vpu is affected. For this enterprise we will use nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. This information will serve as a springboard for future investigations of virus membrane proteins.
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Generation and exploitation of novel fermentation products in the synthesis of biologically active organic compounds with therapeutic potential. Collections of new micro-organisms and their metabolites suitable for use in the synthesis of potential therapeutic agents will be established. The combined application of molecular biological, microbiological and chemical synthesis techniques in a concerted manner in the one location will lead to major new opportunities for Australian industry.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101438
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Application of boronate ester-appended scaffolds in drug-discovery. This project aims to improve carbohydrate synthesis. Glycochemistry is an increasingly important chemical science that combines organic synthesis with biology. This project will develop methodologies that incorporate boronate ester residues onto selected carbons of monosaccharides and transform them to obtain hitherto inaccessible scaffolds for drug discovery. This strategy can be used in the controlled assembly of other biologi ....Application of boronate ester-appended scaffolds in drug-discovery. This project aims to improve carbohydrate synthesis. Glycochemistry is an increasingly important chemical science that combines organic synthesis with biology. This project will develop methodologies that incorporate boronate ester residues onto selected carbons of monosaccharides and transform them to obtain hitherto inaccessible scaffolds for drug discovery. This strategy can be used in the controlled assembly of other biologically important compounds, including azacycles, oxacycles and inositols. The methods for the controlled diversification of carbohydrates are expected to be broadly applicable to scientific endeavours ranging from glycobiology to medicine. Successful execution will provide new drug-discovery tools and ensure Australia secures a competitive position in this rapidly expanding discipline.Read moreRead less
Ultrasonic production of skim milk. Milk will be skimmed using ultrasonic waves and tiny bubbles that separate the fat droplets from whole milk, saving energy and cleaning costs. It will also be possible to precisely select different nutritional compounds from the rich resource that is whole milk, enabling future health products.
Biotechnology applications in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry: Pharmacological manipulation of ovarian function in domestic animals. The purpose of this research is to develop a humane, simple, safe, effective means of sterilizing female domestic animals without the need for surgical intervention. This novel experimental strategy is to target the supply of dormant eggs in the ovaries of female mammals. Every female mammal is born with a finite supply of eggs in the ovarian cortex. These c ....Biotechnology applications in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry: Pharmacological manipulation of ovarian function in domestic animals. The purpose of this research is to develop a humane, simple, safe, effective means of sterilizing female domestic animals without the need for surgical intervention. This novel experimental strategy is to target the supply of dormant eggs in the ovaries of female mammals. Every female mammal is born with a finite supply of eggs in the ovarian cortex. These cells cannot divide and so when this store is exhausted, reproduction ceases. Our strategy is to develop pharmaceutical reagents that will destroy this dormant egg population, thereby rendering the animals instantaneously and irreversibly infertile.Read moreRead less
An evaluation of novel aluminosilicate materials based on modified kaolins for environmental applications. We have shown that simple and inexpensive modification of kaolin produces materials that adsorb large amounts of ammonium (N) and phosphate (P). We intend to evaluate and develop these materials for water treatment, so as to reduce N, P inputs into rivers and wetlands. The materials can then be used as fertilisers. Similarly addition of the materials to sandy soils to reduce leaching losses ....An evaluation of novel aluminosilicate materials based on modified kaolins for environmental applications. We have shown that simple and inexpensive modification of kaolin produces materials that adsorb large amounts of ammonium (N) and phosphate (P). We intend to evaluate and develop these materials for water treatment, so as to reduce N, P inputs into rivers and wetlands. The materials can then be used as fertilisers. Similarly addition of the materials to sandy soils to reduce leaching losses of N, P from fertilisers will be investigated. The major outcome of this research will be effective and inexpensive procedures for reducing eutrophication due to N, P from waste water and fertilisers.Read moreRead less
Autotransporter assembly: new insights and biotechnological potential. The objective of this project is to improve our understanding of a fundamental biological problem: how autotransporters are assembled into cellular membranes. Autotransporters are a large family of bacterial proteins that play key roles in the pathogenesis of several infectious diseases. Currently, the precise mechanism by which disease-causing molecules are assembled into the outer membranes of bacteria and mitochondria is p ....Autotransporter assembly: new insights and biotechnological potential. The objective of this project is to improve our understanding of a fundamental biological problem: how autotransporters are assembled into cellular membranes. Autotransporters are a large family of bacterial proteins that play key roles in the pathogenesis of several infectious diseases. Currently, the precise mechanism by which disease-causing molecules are assembled into the outer membranes of bacteria and mitochondria is poorly understood. The knowledge that the project develops may inform future strategies aimed at the rational treatment of bacterial and mitochondrial diseases.Read moreRead less
Stamp forming of lightweight fibre-metal laminate systems. A key criteria in the development of new vehicles is weight reduction. The aim of this project is to investigate the formability of fibre metal laminates (FMLs) for automotive applications. These hybrid material systems have significant advantages in terms of strength, weight, noise and impact reduction over metals. The major research issue addressed here is how can such materials be formed for volume production.
New Protocols for the Chemical Synthesis of Biologically Relevant Systems. Enzyme- and metal-catalysed processes will be developed and exploited for the purpose of establishing concise syntheses of biologically active and otherwise inaccessible natural products and their analogues. The range of structures to be targeted is structurally diverse and these have the potential to act as agrochemicals and/or as therapeutic agents for the treatment of a range of disease states in mammals including bact ....New Protocols for the Chemical Synthesis of Biologically Relevant Systems. Enzyme- and metal-catalysed processes will be developed and exploited for the purpose of establishing concise syntheses of biologically active and otherwise inaccessible natural products and their analogues. The range of structures to be targeted is structurally diverse and these have the potential to act as agrochemicals and/or as therapeutic agents for the treatment of a range of disease states in mammals including bacterial and viral infections, neuro-degenerative conditions and impaired cognitive function. Anti-angiogenic compounds that control otherwise unregulated cellular growth may also arise from these studies. The generation of new, homochiral metabolites for use in chemoenzymatic synthesis should also emerge from this project.Read moreRead less