Oxygen isotope discrimination during C4 photosynthesis. Plants with the C4 photosynthetic pathway, like sugarcane and pasture grasses, are vital to Australian agriculture and natural ecosystems. This project will use novel laser spectroscopy to measure oxygen isotope discrimination during photosynthesis and quantify the influence of C4 plants on isotopic signatures of atmospheric CO2.
Dual-targeting of proteins and its role in coordinating organelle functions in plants. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia's future will be built on understanding and manipulating the expression of groups of genes to influence whole plant phenotypes providing more robust plants and high value plant products. Plant energy organelles are central components in plant metabolism, their coordination by processes such as dual-targeting has potential to modify germination characteristics, ear ....Dual-targeting of proteins and its role in coordinating organelle functions in plants. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia's future will be built on understanding and manipulating the expression of groups of genes to influence whole plant phenotypes providing more robust plants and high value plant products. Plant energy organelles are central components in plant metabolism, their coordination by processes such as dual-targeting has potential to modify germination characteristics, early seedling vigour, and stress tolerance. Studying energy organelles could generate valuable intellectual property to be applied within Australia's large plant-based industries and at the same time provide a rich intellectual environment for the training of research students and postdoctoral researchers.Read moreRead less
Characteristics of chlorophyll d-binding protein complexes: assembly of light-harvesting complexes. This project will investigate molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis in Chl d with the view to applying our findings in biotechnology and artificial photosynthesis. We will use a variety of molecular biology, proteomics and physical techniques to probe the bonding of Chl d to binding proteins. Synthetic peptide maquettes will provide a model to develop this understanding. Only two chlorophylls (a ....Characteristics of chlorophyll d-binding protein complexes: assembly of light-harvesting complexes. This project will investigate molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis in Chl d with the view to applying our findings in biotechnology and artificial photosynthesis. We will use a variety of molecular biology, proteomics and physical techniques to probe the bonding of Chl d to binding proteins. Synthetic peptide maquettes will provide a model to develop this understanding. Only two chlorophylls (a and d) have so far been found to take part in the primary reactions of photosynthesis. This research will grow our understanding of this pivotal process and underpin future developments in artificial photosynthesis and in the photonics industry.Read moreRead less
Peridinin-chlorophyll-protein complex: unravelling the unique photosynthetic apparatus of dinoflagellates in response to climatic variation. Dinoflagellates sustain the food chain. They live in coral and in ice, and also create toxic algal blooms. This project will dissect the unique photosynthetic machinery of these organisms to learn how they adapt and thrive in extreme environments. This new knowledge will predict how dinoflagellate-based ecosystems will respond to future climate change.
Seagrass tolerance of oil spills - scaling of pollution impacts. Seagrasses provide vital ecosystem services (such as sediment stabilisation and habitat provision) in Australian coastal waters. The contribution of pollutants to current seagrass decline is poorly understood. The Australian shipping industry is the 5th largest in the world but there is very little data on the impacts of petroleum hydrocarbons on intertidal seagrasses and hence no information for coastal resource managers to use in ....Seagrass tolerance of oil spills - scaling of pollution impacts. Seagrasses provide vital ecosystem services (such as sediment stabilisation and habitat provision) in Australian coastal waters. The contribution of pollutants to current seagrass decline is poorly understood. The Australian shipping industry is the 5th largest in the world but there is very little data on the impacts of petroleum hydrocarbons on intertidal seagrasses and hence no information for coastal resource managers to use in decision-making in the event of an oil spill. This project will assess the relative toxicities of a number of petroleum hydrocarbons on Australian seagrass species to provide necessary data for the development of effective management practice.Read moreRead less
Novel oxygen sensing tools for monitoring the effects of dredging on Australian seagrass communities. Seagrass meadows sustain marine biodiversity and the fishing industries on Australian coasts. Dredging of ports and shipping channels is contributing to their rapid global decline. The project will use state-of-the-art technologies in bio-optics and genomics to create a toolkit for seagrass managers to make informed decisions to safeguard seagrass meadows.
Bio-optical model of Antarctic sea-ice algae photosynthesis. Antarctica contains no permanent human population; however the impact of climate change is being observed. Sea-ice is slowly becoming less thick and covering smaller areas of the Southern Ocean. Algae grow on the underside of this sea-ice which feed krill, which in turn support most of the Antarctic food web. Understanding how changes in sea-ice and snow thickness will change the productivity of Antarctica will have significant implica ....Bio-optical model of Antarctic sea-ice algae photosynthesis. Antarctica contains no permanent human population; however the impact of climate change is being observed. Sea-ice is slowly becoming less thick and covering smaller areas of the Southern Ocean. Algae grow on the underside of this sea-ice which feed krill, which in turn support most of the Antarctic food web. Understanding how changes in sea-ice and snow thickness will change the productivity of Antarctica will have significant implications to our management of this wilderness. Knowledge of how sea-ice algae responds to changes in light can be incorporated in climate change models.Read moreRead less
Avoiding coral bleaching: investigation into the repair of damaged photosynthetic machinery in symbiotic algae (symbiodinium) within corals. Photosynthesis in symbiotic algae within corals is essential for a healthy alga-coral symbiotic relationship. This project will provide new insights into how symbiotic algae maintain higher photosynthetic performance in corals through elucidating the mechanism associated with the repair of photodamaged photosynthetic machinery.
Plant Transfer Cells - Discovering the Mechanisms of Wall Ingrowth Formation. This project seeks fundamental molecular understanding of how specialized plant cells that are designed for optimum transport of nutrients develop. So-called "transfer cells" are important for efficient nutrient transport and distribution in many crop species of significance to agriculture. Discovering the mechanisms that coordinate development of these specialized cells will maintain Australia's international reputat ....Plant Transfer Cells - Discovering the Mechanisms of Wall Ingrowth Formation. This project seeks fundamental molecular understanding of how specialized plant cells that are designed for optimum transport of nutrients develop. So-called "transfer cells" are important for efficient nutrient transport and distribution in many crop species of significance to agriculture. Discovering the mechanisms that coordinate development of these specialized cells will maintain Australia's international reputation in this field of research, as well as provide technological opportunities to enhance crop yields by manipulating the efficiency of nutrient distribution in crop species. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989782
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$524,000.00
Summary
A Core Western Australian Cell Sorting Facility - Ultra-Small Objects and Rare Cell Populations. This new generic capacity to rapidly isolate structures smaller than the cell has extraordinarily wide application in the biological sciences. Making this capacity widely accessible through a core facility to the Western Australian research community will generate research outcomes of national and community benefit. Sorting chromosomes to better understand genetic abnormalities and sorting bacteria t ....A Core Western Australian Cell Sorting Facility - Ultra-Small Objects and Rare Cell Populations. This new generic capacity to rapidly isolate structures smaller than the cell has extraordinarily wide application in the biological sciences. Making this capacity widely accessible through a core facility to the Western Australian research community will generate research outcomes of national and community benefit. Sorting chromosomes to better understand genetic abnormalities and sorting bacteria to better understand and reduce bacterial infection will result in improvements in human health. Sorting parasites, bacteria and immune cells will lead to new animal vaccines for parasites and diseases such as bird flu. Sorting marine plankton will lead to more sustainable marine ecosystems and fisheries.Read moreRead less