Expanding the molecular tool set for structural studies of proteins and their complexes. Many applications in medical science and drug development depend on our ability to determine the 3D structures of proteins, protein assemblies and protein-ligand complexes. This project will develop novel lanthanide-binding tags and crosslinking agents that can be coupled to unnatural amino acids introduced into proteins with advanced protein chemistry techniques. These new tools will facilitate the collecti ....Expanding the molecular tool set for structural studies of proteins and their complexes. Many applications in medical science and drug development depend on our ability to determine the 3D structures of proteins, protein assemblies and protein-ligand complexes. This project will develop novel lanthanide-binding tags and crosslinking agents that can be coupled to unnatural amino acids introduced into proteins with advanced protein chemistry techniques. These new tools will facilitate the collection of structure restraints by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and mass spectrometry, which are needed to generate accurate models of proteins and their complexes with other molecules. Major beneficial outcome will include an increase in the number of protein targets amenable to rational drug design and improved methods for generating new drug leads.Read moreRead less
Specific-ion effects in non-aqueous solvents. A test for Hofmeister. A colloidal solution is a liquid that contains a finely dispersed material. The properties of these solutions are critical in many industrially important practices and in the everyday processes of life. Though not understood, it is observed that the type of salt in solution controls how the colloid behaves. Through a series of very careful experiments we seek to learn precisely how different salts influence the properties of a ....Specific-ion effects in non-aqueous solvents. A test for Hofmeister. A colloidal solution is a liquid that contains a finely dispersed material. The properties of these solutions are critical in many industrially important practices and in the everyday processes of life. Though not understood, it is observed that the type of salt in solution controls how the colloid behaves. Through a series of very careful experiments we seek to learn precisely how different salts influence the properties of a colloidal solution. This world-leading research will enable us to improve our fundamental understanding of colloids and thereby facilitate advances in topics as diverse as enzymatic action and minerals purification, ensuring Australia remains at the forefront of science in this field.Read moreRead less
Investigating the behaviour of semiconductor materials under extreme pressures. The study of materials at extreme pressures is important and interesting from both a technological and a fundamental perspective. This project will significantly advance the understanding of how semiconductors react to high-pressure environments by exploiting new and innovative approaches to both the application of the extreme pressure and the in-situ measurement of the resultant structures. It will establish a compr ....Investigating the behaviour of semiconductor materials under extreme pressures. The study of materials at extreme pressures is important and interesting from both a technological and a fundamental perspective. This project will significantly advance the understanding of how semiconductors react to high-pressure environments by exploiting new and innovative approaches to both the application of the extreme pressure and the in-situ measurement of the resultant structures. It will establish a comprehensive understanding of the deformation behaviour of semiconductors that will be essential in the search for advanced materials with entirely new properties that may be useful in semiconducting device applications.Read moreRead less
3D Structure determination of biomacromolecular assemblies from sparse data. This project has direct impact on pharmaceutical research: Biomacromolecular interactions are key points for pharmaceutical intervention and detailed structural knowledge of dynamic protein interactions can significantly accelerate drug development. Australia has invested in expensive instrumentation that can be used with new laboratory methods to obtain information on delicately balanced biomacromolecular interactions, ....3D Structure determination of biomacromolecular assemblies from sparse data. This project has direct impact on pharmaceutical research: Biomacromolecular interactions are key points for pharmaceutical intervention and detailed structural knowledge of dynamic protein interactions can significantly accelerate drug development. Australia has invested in expensive instrumentation that can be used with new laboratory methods to obtain information on delicately balanced biomacromolecular interactions, and how they malfunction in disease. This project will provide a computational framework to increase the impact of this investment by integrating measurements from a range of novel technologies and developing understanding of changes in structure of large protein complexes in different functional states.Read moreRead less
The charXive challenge and the clean coal quest: thermokinetic principles and methods for capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide. Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol, which Australia signed in 2007, states that a transfer of carbon credits may only take place if the associated activity provides a reduction in emissions by sources or an enhancement of removals by sinks that is additional to any that would otherwise occur. Since biochar production reduces emissions from biomass decay and transfers ....The charXive challenge and the clean coal quest: thermokinetic principles and methods for capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide. Article 6 of the Kyoto Protocol, which Australia signed in 2007, states that a transfer of carbon credits may only take place if the associated activity provides a reduction in emissions by sources or an enhancement of removals by sinks that is additional to any that would otherwise occur. Since biochar production reduces emissions from biomass decay and transfers oxidized carbon from the atmosphere to the inactive black carbon pool this project will contribute to the national effort in additional greenhouse gas abatements. The Australian Government is also committed to clean coal technologies, which are expensive. An economically viable method of capturing carbon emissions from electricity generators will result from this project.Read moreRead less
Designing reactivity of homogeneous and heterogeneous water-splitting catalysts using muti-dimensional site-selective spectroscopies. New classes of heterogeneous manganese-calcium water splitting catalysts analogous to the unique biological water splitting cofactor have recently emerged but with far lower catalytic rates than seen for the biological system. These new materials are promising targets for large-scale hydrogen fuel production with low cost, high efficiency and ease of manufacture. ....Designing reactivity of homogeneous and heterogeneous water-splitting catalysts using muti-dimensional site-selective spectroscopies. New classes of heterogeneous manganese-calcium water splitting catalysts analogous to the unique biological water splitting cofactor have recently emerged but with far lower catalytic rates than seen for the biological system. These new materials are promising targets for large-scale hydrogen fuel production with low cost, high efficiency and ease of manufacture. To achieve this, the performance gap between these materials and the homogenous biological catalyst must be bridged. Multi-dimensional site-selective spectroscopies, including magneto/optical resonance methods which are aimed to be developed in this project are expected to provide new, atomic level understanding of properties needed to achieve high catalytic efficiency, thus guiding rational catalyst design.Read moreRead less
Understanding the mechanisms of ion conduction and drug action in voltage gated sodium channels. Voltage-gated sodium channels initiate electrical impulses in nerve and muscle and are the target of many local anaesthetic, anti-epileptic and anti-arrythmic drugs. The publication of atomic resolution structures of homologous proteins from bacteria in the last 18 months has now made it possible to gain a detailed understanding of how these channels work, and how they are influenced by drugs. This p ....Understanding the mechanisms of ion conduction and drug action in voltage gated sodium channels. Voltage-gated sodium channels initiate electrical impulses in nerve and muscle and are the target of many local anaesthetic, anti-epileptic and anti-arrythmic drugs. The publication of atomic resolution structures of homologous proteins from bacteria in the last 18 months has now made it possible to gain a detailed understanding of how these channels work, and how they are influenced by drugs. This project aims to determine the basis of ion permeation and selectivity in the channels and explain the mechanisms of action for a number of common drugs. This will provide a foundation for future drug development to target specific channels for improved treatment of epilepsy, chronic pain and arrythmias. Read moreRead less
Anticipating, Combating and Exploiting the Evolution of Pesticide Resistance in Australian Agricultural Pests and Disease Vectors. Synthetic insecticides have resulted in an explosion in food production through effective insect control. However, insects have begun to evolve resistance against one of the most widely used classes of insecticides (organophosphates) via mutations in carboxylesterases (CBEs). To address this problem, the ability to anticipate further evolution, combat it and exploit ....Anticipating, Combating and Exploiting the Evolution of Pesticide Resistance in Australian Agricultural Pests and Disease Vectors. Synthetic insecticides have resulted in an explosion in food production through effective insect control. However, insects have begun to evolve resistance against one of the most widely used classes of insecticides (organophosphates) via mutations in carboxylesterases (CBEs). To address this problem, the ability to anticipate further evolution, combat it and exploit it for our own benefit is needed. This project aims to anticipate evolution by simulating it in the laboratory, allowing for the best preparation for change. New pesticides will be designed to combat insecticide resistance based upon the molecular structure of an insect CBE. This project aims to exploit these newly evolved enzymes to create biosensors and decontamination agents.Read moreRead less
Investigation of the structure and stability of ion tracks in application-specific materials and environments. This project will use an innovative experimental approach to study the structure and stability of high-energy ion tracks in solids. It will resolve open questions related to applications in geology, nanotechnology, and nuclear physics, and provide new strategies for understanding materials behaviour under extreme experimental conditions.
Bulk nanobubbles: from fundamentals to biomedical applications. This project aims to extend optical and acoustic tools to detect bulk nanobubbles, control their size-distributions, and understand how they interact with biomolecules. Liquids containing nanobubbles have numerous applications particularly in biomedicine. Using interdisciplinary approaches, this project expects to gain convincing evidence of the existence of bulk nanobubbles. This is expected to advance existing fundamental knowle ....Bulk nanobubbles: from fundamentals to biomedical applications. This project aims to extend optical and acoustic tools to detect bulk nanobubbles, control their size-distributions, and understand how they interact with biomolecules. Liquids containing nanobubbles have numerous applications particularly in biomedicine. Using interdisciplinary approaches, this project expects to gain convincing evidence of the existence of bulk nanobubbles. This is expected to advance existing fundamental knowledge at the forefront of soft matter research, and give Australia a decisive technological head start in a competitive and lucrative industry through patentable technology.Read moreRead less