Novel cell wall genes ripe for the picking. This project aims to investigate the role of recently discovered plant cellulose synthase-like CslM genes and to define the polysaccharide product associated with them. Successful identification of the polysaccharide is highly likely to increase our fundamental understanding of how cell walls are made, how cells stick together or fall apart as well as facilitating the training of the next generation of cell wall biologists in challenging molecular and ....Novel cell wall genes ripe for the picking. This project aims to investigate the role of recently discovered plant cellulose synthase-like CslM genes and to define the polysaccharide product associated with them. Successful identification of the polysaccharide is highly likely to increase our fundamental understanding of how cell walls are made, how cells stick together or fall apart as well as facilitating the training of the next generation of cell wall biologists in challenging molecular and biochemical techniques. This new knowledge could increase our understanding of fruit ripening, and how it might be manipulated. This could have significant downstream commercial benefits if applied to breeding programs of economically important fruit such as grapes, tomatoes and strawberries.Read moreRead less
New methods for drug discovery by NMR spectroscopy. This project aims to advance nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy methods in the field of drug discovery. It addresses a long-standing bottleneck for medicinal chemists in drug development: the rapid determination of how ligand molecules bind to proteins, where they bind and their orientation in the binding site. The methods include techniques for the attachment of NMR tags to ligands and target proteins, installation of new unnatural ....New methods for drug discovery by NMR spectroscopy. This project aims to advance nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy methods in the field of drug discovery. It addresses a long-standing bottleneck for medicinal chemists in drug development: the rapid determination of how ligand molecules bind to proteins, where they bind and their orientation in the binding site. The methods include techniques for the attachment of NMR tags to ligands and target proteins, installation of new unnatural amino acids in proteins, and software for automated assignment of NMR spectra and 3D structure modelling of proteins using sparse distance restraints measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The outcome is to benefit the early stages of drug discovery in the biotech industries.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Synthetic Efficiency For Molecular Complexity and Diversity. This project aims to introduce new, broad-spectrum strategies that permit more efficient and selective ways to access complex organic molecules. The approach involves maximising the molecule-building potential of some of the smallest accessible molecular building blocks. Significant outcomes expected from this work include much shorter chemical syntheses of important organic substances and much improved, broad scope synthetic ....Enhanced Synthetic Efficiency For Molecular Complexity and Diversity. This project aims to introduce new, broad-spectrum strategies that permit more efficient and selective ways to access complex organic molecules. The approach involves maximising the molecule-building potential of some of the smallest accessible molecular building blocks. Significant outcomes expected from this work include much shorter chemical syntheses of important organic substances and much improved, broad scope synthetic methods. The concepts introduced by this work aims to benefit industry and manufacturing by introducing more efficient methods for fine chemical manufacture, while simultaneously lowering energy use and producing less waste.Read moreRead less
Multi-Bond-Forming Processes: Step-Economical Synthesis In Batch And Flow. This project aims to develop better ways to make and understand organic substances: the materials that make up all known life forms, our medicines, and many designed materials. Based on the previous development of powerful multi-bond-forming processes, the purpose of this project is to develop cascade sequences involving dendralenes in new and innovative ways. The project plans to generalise these processes and apply them ....Multi-Bond-Forming Processes: Step-Economical Synthesis In Batch And Flow. This project aims to develop better ways to make and understand organic substances: the materials that make up all known life forms, our medicines, and many designed materials. Based on the previous development of powerful multi-bond-forming processes, the purpose of this project is to develop cascade sequences involving dendralenes in new and innovative ways. The project plans to generalise these processes and apply them in short total syntheses; extend the boundaries of multi-bond-forming processes and break new records; and reach higher levels of synthetic efficiency and selectivity by introducing the latest flow chemistry and automated reaction optimisation technology.Read moreRead less
New Horizons in Quinonedimethide Chemistry. Quinonedimethides (QDMs) are organic molecules with a notorious reputation for instability, hence they are poorly understood and an underexploited resource. This project will unite the ideally suited computational and experimental skills of the CIs to perform the first thorough investigation into fundamental QDM chemistry. It aims to map structure-reactivity in QDMs, investigate their ability to rapidly generate complex structures, and demonstrate thei ....New Horizons in Quinonedimethide Chemistry. Quinonedimethides (QDMs) are organic molecules with a notorious reputation for instability, hence they are poorly understood and an underexploited resource. This project will unite the ideally suited computational and experimental skills of the CIs to perform the first thorough investigation into fundamental QDM chemistry. It aims to map structure-reactivity in QDMs, investigate their ability to rapidly generate complex structures, and demonstrate their potential in spintronics and other applications. Anticipated outcomes include powerful and general new synthetic concepts, methods, strategies and tactics. This should provide significant benefits, such as better ways to manufacture important medicines and other materials.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100065
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$423,808.00
Summary
Designing Organocatalysts to Achieve Hyperpolarised Magnetic Resonance. Magnetic resonance techniques (such as MRI scans) suffer from an inherent insensitivity problem. In medical imaging, this can hamper diagnosis and mean long scan times for patients. This project aims to chemically develop catalysts which dramatically increase sensitivity, producing a signal that is thousands of times more visible. This project is significant as these catalysts can turn common, harmless molecules in the body ....Designing Organocatalysts to Achieve Hyperpolarised Magnetic Resonance. Magnetic resonance techniques (such as MRI scans) suffer from an inherent insensitivity problem. In medical imaging, this can hamper diagnosis and mean long scan times for patients. This project aims to chemically develop catalysts which dramatically increase sensitivity, producing a signal that is thousands of times more visible. This project is significant as these catalysts can turn common, harmless molecules in the body - even water - into visible tracers. The expected outcomes of this project include the synthesis and understanding of these catalysts which will be chemically fine-tuned to maximise their effectiveness. Potential benefits include translation to MRI applications to improve diagnosis and treatment, or chemical monitoring.Read moreRead less
Switchable and stereocontrolled photoredox catalysis. This project aims to develop new catalytic synthetic reactions for the rapid and more direct functionalisation of organic compounds under mild conditions with the use of visible light. An integrated experimental and computational approach will be used to design potent visible-light photocatalysts that retain the advantages of standard photoredox catalysis but with the added ability to intercept and, thus control, reactive intermediates in sit ....Switchable and stereocontrolled photoredox catalysis. This project aims to develop new catalytic synthetic reactions for the rapid and more direct functionalisation of organic compounds under mild conditions with the use of visible light. An integrated experimental and computational approach will be used to design potent visible-light photocatalysts that retain the advantages of standard photoredox catalysis but with the added ability to intercept and, thus control, reactive intermediates in situ. This will enable the control of stereochemistry in photoredox reactions – not possible with standard catalysts - and establish other useful synthetic transformations. These strategies will make it easier to prepare valuable classes of organic molecules – efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively.
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Eradicating bacterial biofilms with nitroxide-antimicrobial hybrids. This project aims to develop new antimicrobials to address the rise of drug-resistant infections and resilient bacterial communities called biofilms. We aim to break new ground in our fundamental knowledge of antimicrobial mechanisms and exploit this understanding by fusing cellular/molecular microbiology and synthetic chemistry approaches. We seek to gain an in-depth understanding of how nitroxides induce bacterial biofilm dis ....Eradicating bacterial biofilms with nitroxide-antimicrobial hybrids. This project aims to develop new antimicrobials to address the rise of drug-resistant infections and resilient bacterial communities called biofilms. We aim to break new ground in our fundamental knowledge of antimicrobial mechanisms and exploit this understanding by fusing cellular/molecular microbiology and synthetic chemistry approaches. We seek to gain an in-depth understanding of how nitroxides induce bacterial biofilm dispersal, which is critical for the discovery of anti-biofilm molecules that do not fail due to resistance development. These breakthroughs should induce a step-change in our ability to reduce the occurrence of biofilm-related infection in fields ranging from medical and veterinary to biotechnology and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Targeting conjugated markers with new metabolomic methods. Detecting the illicit use of natural steroids like testosterone, or compounds that modulate natural steroid levels, remains the greatest challenge for drug testing in all forms of sport. This project aims to develop new metabolomic methods based on liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry to detect the changes occurring in the conjugated steroid profile following the administration of steroids or steroid modulators. The in ....Targeting conjugated markers with new metabolomic methods. Detecting the illicit use of natural steroids like testosterone, or compounds that modulate natural steroid levels, remains the greatest challenge for drug testing in all forms of sport. This project aims to develop new metabolomic methods based on liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry to detect the changes occurring in the conjugated steroid profile following the administration of steroids or steroid modulators. The intended outcome will be a set of sensitive and analytical methods using a range of newly identified conjugated steroid markers and associated reference materials, which promises to enhance integrity and animal welfare in the thoroughbred racing industry.
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