Pro-Fluorescent Aryl Nitroxides: New Probes for Polymer Lifetime and Kinetics Research. Internal aryl rings present in novel probes developed for this project impart fluorescence which is efficiently and internally quenched by the presence of a paramagnetic nitroxide group. Scavenging of radicals by the nitroxide however "switches on" the fluorescence and this enables powerful new fluorescence-based detection levels for the technique of nitroxide free radical scavenging. Such sensitivity is a ....Pro-Fluorescent Aryl Nitroxides: New Probes for Polymer Lifetime and Kinetics Research. Internal aryl rings present in novel probes developed for this project impart fluorescence which is efficiently and internally quenched by the presence of a paramagnetic nitroxide group. Scavenging of radicals by the nitroxide however "switches on" the fluorescence and this enables powerful new fluorescence-based detection levels for the technique of nitroxide free radical scavenging. Such sensitivity is applicable to polymerization kinetics studies, as well as providing new means for the determination of materials lifetimes. The development of pro-fluorescent markers as indicators for polymer degradation would be a significant outcome for materials where component failure has a major negative impact.Read moreRead less
Polymer Globules: Beyond the Homopolymer Model. Polymers are long chainlike molecules which play a crucial role in many aspects of our lives. As plastics they represent the most versatile and ubiquitous of man-made materials. Moreover, all living things depend on polymers for the structure of their cells and for the inheritance and function through DNA and proteins. Despite their importance our understanding of polymers is rather limited. The research funded by this proposal will enable us to ....Polymer Globules: Beyond the Homopolymer Model. Polymers are long chainlike molecules which play a crucial role in many aspects of our lives. As plastics they represent the most versatile and ubiquitous of man-made materials. Moreover, all living things depend on polymers for the structure of their cells and for the inheritance and function through DNA and proteins. Despite their importance our understanding of polymers is rather limited. The research funded by this proposal will enable us to understand more complicated kinds of polymers. This will help uncover some fascinating physics and in the long term develop new materials and promote new advances in biology. Read moreRead less
Salt, Sugar and Sequence: The Effect of Molecular Forces on Polymer Conformation. We propose a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of single polymer chains, exploring how their shape or conformation, and stretching characteristics are affected by specific molecular interactions. Our tools in this study are both experimental and theoretical: optical tweezers, atomic force microscopy, as well as new theories in colloid science, and computer simulation. In particular, we will exa ....Salt, Sugar and Sequence: The Effect of Molecular Forces on Polymer Conformation. We propose a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of single polymer chains, exploring how their shape or conformation, and stretching characteristics are affected by specific molecular interactions. Our tools in this study are both experimental and theoretical: optical tweezers, atomic force microscopy, as well as new theories in colloid science, and computer simulation. In particular, we will examine the effect of different salts and sugars upon the properties of polymers such as DNA, and how monomer sequence can lead to dramatically different structures in solution which in turn will lead to novel materials.Read moreRead less
New Methods for Structural Biology in Solution. It is proposed to establish a new research group that focuses on the development of new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technologies and applications to problems concerning protein structure and function. This includes
- the exploitation of new NMR parameters;
- optimization of an inexpensive in vitro protein expression system;
- development of experimental strategies for the identification of protein-ligand surfaces by chemical modificatio ....New Methods for Structural Biology in Solution. It is proposed to establish a new research group that focuses on the development of new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technologies and applications to problems concerning protein structure and function. This includes
- the exploitation of new NMR parameters;
- optimization of an inexpensive in vitro protein expression system;
- development of experimental strategies for the identification of protein-ligand surfaces by chemical modification, as a basis for high-throughput mass spectrometrical analyses;
- development of an algorithm for rapid resonance assignment of 15N-labelled proteins which is of importance for the pharmaceutical industry;
- 3D structure determinations of proteins and protein domains.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560751
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$432,474.00
Summary
Facility for the Analysis of Biomacromolecular Interactions. A facility for the analysis of biological macromolecules and their interactions with ligand molecules is required to support a large number of research projects in high priority areas including mechanisms of aging, drug development and bio/nanotechnology at three different universities. The instrumentation will (i) afford quantitative measurements of binding affinities between biological and chemical macromolecules, which are available ....Facility for the Analysis of Biomacromolecular Interactions. A facility for the analysis of biological macromolecules and their interactions with ligand molecules is required to support a large number of research projects in high priority areas including mechanisms of aging, drug development and bio/nanotechnology at three different universities. The instrumentation will (i) afford quantitative measurements of binding affinities between biological and chemical macromolecules, which are available only in small quantities, and small, drug related molecules (by microcalorimetry and dual polarization interferometry), and (ii) provide equipment necessary for sample characterization and purification prior to quantitative measurements (CD spectroscopy, and FPLC equipment).Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560758
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$187,000.00
Summary
Dynamics at Interfaces: a facility for the characterisation of the dynamics of structural reorganisation and adsorption at interfaces. Controlling the flow, stability, and general performance of finely dispersed materials is important in a great number of industries from cosmetics to minerals purification. These properties are often controlled by the addition of material that forms a film at the interface between the dispersed material and the solvent. We seek to develop a facility that will ena ....Dynamics at Interfaces: a facility for the characterisation of the dynamics of structural reorganisation and adsorption at interfaces. Controlling the flow, stability, and general performance of finely dispersed materials is important in a great number of industries from cosmetics to minerals purification. These properties are often controlled by the addition of material that forms a film at the interface between the dispersed material and the solvent. We seek to develop a facility that will enable the properties of this film to be characterized, in particular the rate at which the film responds to mechanical and chemical changes. With this knowledge we hope to relate the nanoscopic properties of the adsorbed film to macroscopic properties of the dispersion and be able to tune the structure of the surface film, in order to control the bulk properties of complex fluids.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560818
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$154,000.00
Summary
A Pico-Newton Scale Force Measurement Apparatus for Polymer Physics and Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics. We propose to build a state-of-the-art Optical Tweezers apparatus that measures small forces and torques on micron-sized objects located in 'optical traps'. Using a single laser beam and computer-generated holograms, we will create arrays of optical traps that move or 'dance', and alter the force/torque-imposing properties of each trap. This proposed research equipment will be used (1 ....A Pico-Newton Scale Force Measurement Apparatus for Polymer Physics and Non-equilibrium Statistical Mechanics. We propose to build a state-of-the-art Optical Tweezers apparatus that measures small forces and torques on micron-sized objects located in 'optical traps'. Using a single laser beam and computer-generated holograms, we will create arrays of optical traps that move or 'dance', and alter the force/torque-imposing properties of each trap. This proposed research equipment will be used (1) to study the physics of single synthetic polymer and naturally occuring biopolymer chains, (2) to quantify experimentally, and for the first time, newly predicted molecular-scale forces, and (3) to demonstrate new theories in non-equilibrium statistical mechanics that quantitatively describe the operation of nanomachines. Read moreRead less
Macromolecular Condensates: From Globules to Toroids and Beyond. Polymers are long-chain molecules which are vital for all living things. Examples include proteins and DNA which carries all of the information needed for life. In the cell and in the laboratory these polymers are often found in a compact folded state. Current polymer science is good at describing very flexible polymers, but fails to describe most biological polymers which have backbones that are difficult to bend. Our aim is to ....Macromolecular Condensates: From Globules to Toroids and Beyond. Polymers are long-chain molecules which are vital for all living things. Examples include proteins and DNA which carries all of the information needed for life. In the cell and in the laboratory these polymers are often found in a compact folded state. Current polymer science is good at describing very flexible polymers, but fails to describe most biological polymers which have backbones that are difficult to bend. Our aim is to describe the folded or globular state for many kinds of biological polymers and thus improve our understanding of the role of polymers in living things.Read moreRead less