Macrophage Polarisation And Control Of Pulmonary Inflammation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$895,494.00
Summary
As key immune cells, macrophages are polarised to phenotypes that turn inflammation on or off. In cystic fibrosis, defective macrophage polarisation enhances inflammation and prevents lung repair. We are defining the molecules and cellular pathways that control this process and identifying targets for existing drugs that can be used to reprogram macrophages and restore lung repair to improve patient outcomes.
Multiscale Analysis Of Plasma Membrane Microdomains In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$863,413.00
Summary
The cell surface encloses the cell in a protective barrier but it must also respond to signals coming from outside the cell. To accomplish this, the cell surface is made up of numerous regions each with a specialised role. This proposal aims to examine how lipids and proteins work together to make these specialised regions and aims to understand what goes wrong in diseases such as muscular dystrophy.
A unified model of amino acid homeostasis. This project aims to develop a unified model of amino acid homeostasis in mammalian cells and apply it to brain cells. The model will be underpinned by a mathematical algorithm that allows predicting amino acid levels in the cytosol based on fundamental parameters such as transport and metabolism. This project should provide the significant benefit of enabling the prediction of essential functions such as cell growth and survival.
The Implications Of Focal Adhesion Organization On Signal Transduction
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$565,614.00
Summary
The areas of a cell's attachment to their surroundings are known as focal adhesion. Apart from linking the inside and outside of a cell, focal adhesions act as a communication centre transmitting incoming and outgoing signals. How focal adhesions themselves are organized is currently not known. We propose to adhere cells to model surfaces to control the protein and membrane structure of focal adhesions and measure how focal adhesion structure affects cell communication.
Regulation of glutamate receptor dynamics in mammalian central neurons. This proposal aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and how neurons modify their synaptic strength. Although these processes are essential for normal brain function, the precise underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. This project will combine biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays, as well as electrophysiological measurements, to provide mechanistic insights into the m ....Regulation of glutamate receptor dynamics in mammalian central neurons. This proposal aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and how neurons modify their synaptic strength. Although these processes are essential for normal brain function, the precise underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. This project will combine biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays, as well as electrophysiological measurements, to provide mechanistic insights into the molecular processes that control glutamate receptor trafficking in the postsynaptic compartment. This will elucidate how neural plasticity is generated and maintained, information that is critical for our understanding of sensory processing, learning and memory throughout life.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100546
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Activity-dependent regulation of glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. This proposal aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and how neurons modify their synaptic strength. Although these processes are essential for normal brain function, the precise underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This project will use structural, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to study the molecular processes that control glutamate receptor trafficking in the ....Activity-dependent regulation of glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. This proposal aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and how neurons modify their synaptic strength. Although these processes are essential for normal brain function, the precise underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This project will use structural, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to study the molecular processes that control glutamate receptor trafficking in the postsynaptic compartment. It will elucidate how neural plasticity is generated and maintained, information critical for understanding sensory processing, learning and memory throughout life. The findings could identify cellular targets for interventions to enhance cognitive performance and maintain optimal brain function.Read moreRead less
The function of the ribbon structure of the Golgi apparatus in vertebrates. The aim of the project is to determine the function of the Golgi ribbon structure in higher order cell functions, including metabolism, cell cycle, and cell polarity in both cultured cells and whole organisms. Understanding of the functions of the Golgi has been restricted to the regulation of glycosylation and membrane transport. However, it is now recognised that the Golgi apparatus feeds into the wiring of a range of ....The function of the ribbon structure of the Golgi apparatus in vertebrates. The aim of the project is to determine the function of the Golgi ribbon structure in higher order cell functions, including metabolism, cell cycle, and cell polarity in both cultured cells and whole organisms. Understanding of the functions of the Golgi has been restricted to the regulation of glycosylation and membrane transport. However, it is now recognised that the Golgi apparatus feeds into the wiring of a range of cellular networks in higher organisms such as cell polarisation, directed migration, metabolism and autophagy. Vertebrates have evolved mechanisms for joining individual Golgi stacks into a ribbon structure. The relevance of this ribbon structure remains a mystery. The project aims to answer this major question in cell biology.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101035
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$369,500.00
Summary
Ion regulation in Apicomplexan parasites. This project aims to determine how Apicomplexan parasites regulate their sodium and chloride levels to support the development of new parasite control measures. Apicomplexan parasites cause devastating animal and human diseases. Little is known about the physiology of these parasites, and options for controlling them are few. Apicomplexan parasites must precisely control their internal ion compositions in order to survive, but how they do so is not under ....Ion regulation in Apicomplexan parasites. This project aims to determine how Apicomplexan parasites regulate their sodium and chloride levels to support the development of new parasite control measures. Apicomplexan parasites cause devastating animal and human diseases. Little is known about the physiology of these parasites, and options for controlling them are few. Apicomplexan parasites must precisely control their internal ion compositions in order to survive, but how they do so is not understood. Recent work has identified a unique Apicomplexan sodium transporter and revealed a number of chloride transporter candidates. Using a combination of molecular biology and physiological techniques, this project aims to characterise the Apicomplexan sodium transporter in detail and elucidate the molecular mechanisms of chloride transport.Read moreRead less
Regulating nutrient uptake in intracellular parasites. Parasites impose a major economic and medical burden on human societies. In order to grow and reproduce, parasites scavenge nutrients from their animal or human hosts. As they move within and between hosts they encounter different levels of nutrients; how they adapt to these differences is poorly understood. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms by which the model parasite Toxoplasma senses and responds to the nutrients in its envi ....Regulating nutrient uptake in intracellular parasites. Parasites impose a major economic and medical burden on human societies. In order to grow and reproduce, parasites scavenge nutrients from their animal or human hosts. As they move within and between hosts they encounter different levels of nutrients; how they adapt to these differences is poorly understood. This project aims to investigate the mechanisms by which the model parasite Toxoplasma senses and responds to the nutrients in its environment, thereby shedding light on how they adapt to the different environments that they inhabit and, in the longer term, informing novel treatment strategies that aim to limit the parasites’ nutrient supply.Read moreRead less
Investigation of novel mechanisms for the regulation of sperm-oocyte interactions. Through work with national and international collaborators, this project aims to provide unprecedented insights into how spermatozoa recognise and bind to an oocyte. The approach is based on strong preliminary data indicating that molecular chaperones play a key role in the functional remodelling of the spermatozoon by promoting the assembly of multimeric oocyte receptor complexes. Through the use of state-of-the ....Investigation of novel mechanisms for the regulation of sperm-oocyte interactions. Through work with national and international collaborators, this project aims to provide unprecedented insights into how spermatozoa recognise and bind to an oocyte. The approach is based on strong preliminary data indicating that molecular chaperones play a key role in the functional remodelling of the spermatozoon by promoting the assembly of multimeric oocyte receptor complexes. Through the use of state-of-the-art cell biology and proteomic technologies, the project aims to investigate how molecular chaperones orchestrate these changes and in doing so, improve understanding of the fertilisation cascade and open up new contraceptive strategies.Read moreRead less