Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE240100135
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$880,000.00
Summary
An ion mobility-mass spectrometry based platform for structural proteomics. This project aims to establish a nationally unique facility dedicated to structural proteomics, combining high resolution ion mobility mass spectrometry with advanced separation, hydrogen/deuterium exchange and imaging platforms. Such technology is critical to characterise 3D biomacromolecular structures, dynamics, interactions and spatial location on a proteome-wide scale, and overcome current analytical limitations for ....An ion mobility-mass spectrometry based platform for structural proteomics. This project aims to establish a nationally unique facility dedicated to structural proteomics, combining high resolution ion mobility mass spectrometry with advanced separation, hydrogen/deuterium exchange and imaging platforms. Such technology is critical to characterise 3D biomacromolecular structures, dynamics, interactions and spatial location on a proteome-wide scale, and overcome current analytical limitations for structure determination from complex biological samples, particularly for closely related (isomeric) components. Servicing a diverse research community, this will enable new molecular insights to better understand the natural world, and accelerate cutting edge biotechnology advances intersecting life and chemical sciences.Read moreRead less
The impact of copper on protein turnover. This project aims to elaborate a novel discovery by the research team, that a conserved copper-binding site in a group of conserved conjugating enzymes promotes ubiquitination of a range of essential proteins leading to their rapid degradation, which might be a means of maintaining copper homeostasis. This project will employ a range of integrated physicochemical, biochemical and cell biology approaches to illuminate the molecular nature of this copper a ....The impact of copper on protein turnover. This project aims to elaborate a novel discovery by the research team, that a conserved copper-binding site in a group of conserved conjugating enzymes promotes ubiquitination of a range of essential proteins leading to their rapid degradation, which might be a means of maintaining copper homeostasis. This project will employ a range of integrated physicochemical, biochemical and cell biology approaches to illuminate the molecular nature of this copper action on the enzyme and its partners. Expected outcomes include an analytical understanding of the molecular mechanisms of this process, and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration between experts. Potential benefits include new strategies to intervene in copper-related disorders of aging.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE240100038
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$670,000.00
Summary
A multimodal infrared, Raman and fluorescence submicron imaging microscope. A new multimodal microscope system incorporating infrared, Raman and fluorescence imaging can study the chemical composition of single bacteria, plants, small organisms along with hard and soft materials at an unprecedented level of detail. This breakthrough technology has various applications in biology, aquatic chemistry, nanochemistry and forensic archaeology. The system will also support sustainable chemistry, materi ....A multimodal infrared, Raman and fluorescence submicron imaging microscope. A new multimodal microscope system incorporating infrared, Raman and fluorescence imaging can study the chemical composition of single bacteria, plants, small organisms along with hard and soft materials at an unprecedented level of detail. This breakthrough technology has various applications in biology, aquatic chemistry, nanochemistry and forensic archaeology. The system will also support sustainable chemistry, material analysis, green energy and battery development, placing Australia at the forefront of multimodal materials characterisation. Overall, this advancement will deepen our understanding of the chemical and biological world and have broad-reaching benefits across multiple disciplines.
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Non-Canonical Amino Acids for Protein Analysis and Peptide Inhibitors. This interdisciplinary project aims to establish new tools to experimentally confirm 3D structure predictions of proteins that are otherwise difficult to study. A combination of innovative biochemistry, modern spectroscopy, and high-performance computing will be applied to study protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions. The project expects to generate new techniques and to test them on established drug targets. Expecte ....Non-Canonical Amino Acids for Protein Analysis and Peptide Inhibitors. This interdisciplinary project aims to establish new tools to experimentally confirm 3D structure predictions of proteins that are otherwise difficult to study. A combination of innovative biochemistry, modern spectroscopy, and high-performance computing will be applied to study protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions. The project expects to generate new techniques and to test them on established drug targets. Expected outcomes include new tools which quickly inform medicinal chemists how drugs interact with their targets and how they can be improved. The developed tools should provide significant benefit to many researchers by accelerating the early stage of drug discovery, and support Australia’s fast growing biotechnology sector.Read moreRead less
Developing serial crystallography for room temperature structure & dynamics. This project aims to uncover the molecular structural dynamics of a bacterial enzyme responsible for protein folding in bacteria. This project expects to generate new knowledge to guide the development of a new type of antibacterial to circumvent antibiotic resistance. Expected outcomes of this project include new experimental, computational and simulation tools for dynamic X-ray crystallography including new capabiliti ....Developing serial crystallography for room temperature structure & dynamics. This project aims to uncover the molecular structural dynamics of a bacterial enzyme responsible for protein folding in bacteria. This project expects to generate new knowledge to guide the development of a new type of antibacterial to circumvent antibiotic resistance. Expected outcomes of this project include new experimental, computational and simulation tools for dynamic X-ray crystallography including new capabilities at the Australian Synchrotron for very small microcrystals of any biomolecule. This would provide a powerful new tool for the Australian structural biology community that should accelerate fundamental discoveries, including facilitating high-resolution structure determination of membrane proteins and drug development.Read moreRead less
Biomolecular condensates in mRNA-regulation in germ cells. This project aims to investigate how cells form microenvironments that are enriched for specific biological functions. Using a powerful combination of cutting-edge in vitro and in vivo experiments, the project will generate new knowledge in the emerging area of liquid-liquid phase separation. We will analyse the formation of germ granules that are required for fertility. The expected outcome is a transformational understanding of how liq ....Biomolecular condensates in mRNA-regulation in germ cells. This project aims to investigate how cells form microenvironments that are enriched for specific biological functions. Using a powerful combination of cutting-edge in vitro and in vivo experiments, the project will generate new knowledge in the emerging area of liquid-liquid phase separation. We will analyse the formation of germ granules that are required for fertility. The expected outcome is a transformational understanding of how liquid-liquid phase separation occurs in cells which, in the longer term, will have applications in biotechnology and disease treatment.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101236
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$444,154.00
Summary
Chimeric molecules for precision protein modification. This project aims to address fundamental questions on how natural modifications of proteins cause functional changes inside cells. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of organic chemistry and chemical biology through the development of a synthetic platform for the discovery of a novel class of chimeric molecules that can trigger precise modifications of proteins. Expected outcomes include a detailed understanding of ho ....Chimeric molecules for precision protein modification. This project aims to address fundamental questions on how natural modifications of proteins cause functional changes inside cells. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of organic chemistry and chemical biology through the development of a synthetic platform for the discovery of a novel class of chimeric molecules that can trigger precise modifications of proteins. Expected outcomes include a detailed understanding of how specific modifications modulate protein and cellular function. Significant benefits of this interdisciplinary project include access to a new class of molecules for basic research that may also find use for cell engineering applications within the growing biotechnology sector in Australia.Read moreRead less
High-throughput single-molecule directed evolution. DNA polymerases are essential enzymes in many biotechnological tools, including DNA sequencing and PCR tests. However, existing DNA polymerases have limitations, resulting in inaccuracies and inefficiencies. Existing methods to improve polymerases lack sensitivity to screen for subtle, yet pivotal traits. This project aims to overcome this limitation by developing a new single-molecule directed-evolution system to evolve better polymerases. Wit ....High-throughput single-molecule directed evolution. DNA polymerases are essential enzymes in many biotechnological tools, including DNA sequencing and PCR tests. However, existing DNA polymerases have limitations, resulting in inaccuracies and inefficiencies. Existing methods to improve polymerases lack sensitivity to screen for subtle, yet pivotal traits. This project aims to overcome this limitation by developing a new single-molecule directed-evolution system to evolve better polymerases. With this new technology we aim to identify DNA polymerases with improved performance that benefit biotechnological applications. Additionally, these single-molecule directed-evolution methods will benefit the wider scientific community and lay the foundation for further advances in directed evolution.Read moreRead less