The biogenesis of bacterial outer membranes; how bacteria build their surface membranes. The outer membrane protects probiotic bacteria in the human intestine and enables pathogenic bacteria to cause infectious diseases. We will determine bacteria build their outer membranes - outstanding training opportunities come through cutting edge technology and the development of skills not common in Australia.
Peripheral Membrane Proteins In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$640,210.00
Summary
Peripheral membrane proteins are critical for processes such as cell transport, signaling, neurosecretion and development. As such, their dysfunction can lead to many debilitating diseases including cancer, inflammation and neurodegeneration. This project will establish fundamental new knowledge about how peripheral membrane proteins regulate cell function, how their perturbation or mutation results in human disease, and will inform efforts to target them for future therapeutic outcomes.
Structural analysis of a novel plasma membrane coat complex. The plasma membrane of mammalian cells forms a crucial barrier between the cell and the outside world. This project investigates how a newly-discovered family of proteins work together to generate specialised regions of the plasma membrane called caveolae.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100157
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Confocal and single molecule microscopes for systems microscopy. This project aims to establish Australia’s first system microscopy facility with dedicated live-cell confocal and single-molecule fluorescence microscopes. In systems microscopy, the imaging workflow is automated so that large and unbiased data sets of the spatiotemporal organisation of molecules and cells can be generated. Combined with statistical and bioinformatics analyses, image-derived data provides system-wide information th ....Confocal and single molecule microscopes for systems microscopy. This project aims to establish Australia’s first system microscopy facility with dedicated live-cell confocal and single-molecule fluorescence microscopes. In systems microscopy, the imaging workflow is automated so that large and unbiased data sets of the spatiotemporal organisation of molecules and cells can be generated. Combined with statistical and bioinformatics analyses, image-derived data provides system-wide information that is not easily obtainable with other approaches. The project will enable Australian researchers to image and analyse the full complexity of biological systems, potentially transforming cell biology, drug development and understanding the molecular basis of disease. It will also demonstrate how the capacity of microscopy facilities can be enhanced and bias in imaging data reduced by automating data acquisition and mining of image-based data.Read moreRead less
Phosphoinositide regulation of lysosome reformation during autophagy. This project aims to investigate a new critical step in the autophagy pathway, autophagic lysosome reformation, a fundamental, evolutionarily conserved mechanism for cellular homeostasis. By combining gene function studies with advanced cellular imaging techniques, this project will investigate the dynamic membrane changes that drive this lysosome recycling pathway and how it is regulated by a hierarchical succession of specif ....Phosphoinositide regulation of lysosome reformation during autophagy. This project aims to investigate a new critical step in the autophagy pathway, autophagic lysosome reformation, a fundamental, evolutionarily conserved mechanism for cellular homeostasis. By combining gene function studies with advanced cellular imaging techniques, this project will investigate the dynamic membrane changes that drive this lysosome recycling pathway and how it is regulated by a hierarchical succession of specific enzymes. The expected outcome will be to re-define the archetypical autophagy pathway and characterise novel mechanisms by which it is controlled. This project will reveal new fundamental biological processes, and act as a framework for developing new imaging modalities and tools for studying autophagy.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100011
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$346,439.00
Summary
Spinning disk confocal microscope with dual stages. Spinning disk confocal microscope with dual stages: This custom-built spinning disk confocal microscope with rotational stages will constitute an internationally unique platform. The system has the capability of rapidly monitoring cells in growing biological specimens under changing environments. It offers an integrated platform for multiple imaging strategies, including confocal and Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. The ....Spinning disk confocal microscope with dual stages. Spinning disk confocal microscope with dual stages: This custom-built spinning disk confocal microscope with rotational stages will constitute an internationally unique platform. The system has the capability of rapidly monitoring cells in growing biological specimens under changing environments. It offers an integrated platform for multiple imaging strategies, including confocal and Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy. The system will reside in core facilities with open access to a broad research community. The system may be used to monitor a wide variety of cells and molecules, and will offer capabilities that are of importance to understand cell trafficking, disease and signalling, plant biomass production, and climate change.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100090
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
Three-dimensional cryo electron microscopy facility. The three-dimensional cryo-electron microscopy facility will let us visualise plants, pathogens and nanomachines with resolution not previously possible allowing us to see into cells and diseases with vastly more detail. Our world-class experts will provide regional and national researchers access to cutting-edge technology complementary to the Australian Synchrotron.
New targets for antiviral therapies. The ability of dangerous viruses to cause lethal disease depends on their capacity to evade the immune system of infected hosts. This project will uncover at the molecular level the strategies used by viruses to disable immune responses; this will identify new ways to treat incurable diseases, by disabling the virus' defences against the immune system.
The role of actin in driving bulk endocytosis in neurons and neurosecretory cells. Synaptic release of neurotransmitter is essential for neuronal communication. Following fusion, synaptic vesicle membrane is incorporated into the plasma membrane and retrieved by endocytosis to recover both lipids and essential vesicular proteins. The project will characterise how the actin cytoskeleton perform this function.
Unveiling the nanoscale organisation and dynamics of synaptic vesicle pools. This project aims to uncover the role of key molecules in allowing brain cells to actively communicate with each other. Communication between neurons relies on the fusion of synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters with the presynaptic plasma membrane. The addition of vesicular membrane is transient as the vesicles quickly reform from the plasma membrane and refill with neurotransmitter ready for subsequent rounds ....Unveiling the nanoscale organisation and dynamics of synaptic vesicle pools. This project aims to uncover the role of key molecules in allowing brain cells to actively communicate with each other. Communication between neurons relies on the fusion of synaptic vesicles containing neurotransmitters with the presynaptic plasma membrane. The addition of vesicular membrane is transient as the vesicles quickly reform from the plasma membrane and refill with neurotransmitter ready for subsequent rounds of fusion. This recycling process ensures that neurons communicate efficiently, however the underpinning mechanism is unknown. This project aims to use a recently developed single synaptic vesicle super-resolution tracking method to establish how Myosin-VI and Synapsin-IIa orchestrate this recycling in central and peripheral neurons. It will explain how neurons manage to preserve their ability to communicate.Read moreRead less