Understanding the molecular mechanism of force generation in the bacterial flagellar motor. The proposed research will advance the knowledge about how the bacterial flagellar motor works, enabling scientists to learn more about nature's blueprint of a nanoscale engine. It will address the fundamental question of how bacterial cells convert electrochemical energy into mechanical energy of rotation. At present, the smallest artificial electric motor is still on a micro-, rather than nanoscale. Nan ....Understanding the molecular mechanism of force generation in the bacterial flagellar motor. The proposed research will advance the knowledge about how the bacterial flagellar motor works, enabling scientists to learn more about nature's blueprint of a nanoscale engine. It will address the fundamental question of how bacterial cells convert electrochemical energy into mechanical energy of rotation. At present, the smallest artificial electric motor is still on a micro-, rather than nanoscale. Nanotechnology would therefore benefit from this work by basing their designs on the principles behind the mechanism of the bacterial motor. This research is also of interest for veterinary science, as motility by flagellar motor is a key virulence factor of common animal pathogens associated with, for example, listeriosis and gastroenteritis.Read moreRead less
Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins: structure and ligand interactions. Insulin-like growth factors are important for normal growth and development. Their actions are regulated by a family of IGF binding proteins. In order to understand the mechanism of this regulation, the aim of this project is to determine the 3-dimensional structure of 2 IGFBPs in complex with IGFs. This will lead to a comprehensive understanding of this interaction that promises to provide important basic knowledge ....Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins: structure and ligand interactions. Insulin-like growth factors are important for normal growth and development. Their actions are regulated by a family of IGF binding proteins. In order to understand the mechanism of this regulation, the aim of this project is to determine the 3-dimensional structure of 2 IGFBPs in complex with IGFs. This will lead to a comprehensive understanding of this interaction that promises to provide important basic knowledge as well as having major implications for biotechnology, agriculture and health.Read moreRead less
A New Window on Photosynthesis: Ultrafast Coherence Dynamics in Biomolecules and Semiconductor Nanostructures. Recent research has indicated that the remarkable efficiency of energy capture and transfer in photosynthesis may be due to the effects of quantum coherence, which is an intrinsically non-classical phenomenon. We will investigate these effects in biological and nanofabricated systems using ultrafast laser spectroscopy . An understanding of these energy transfer processes may open the d ....A New Window on Photosynthesis: Ultrafast Coherence Dynamics in Biomolecules and Semiconductor Nanostructures. Recent research has indicated that the remarkable efficiency of energy capture and transfer in photosynthesis may be due to the effects of quantum coherence, which is an intrinsically non-classical phenomenon. We will investigate these effects in biological and nanofabricated systems using ultrafast laser spectroscopy . An understanding of these energy transfer processes may open the door to the development to a range of new technologies, including clean and virtually limitless energy sources that convert solar energy directly into useful power and quantum computers that will revolutionize our ability to process information.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0566602
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$87,933.00
Summary
Development of a collaborative online environment and workbench for the investigation of protein folding. The investigation of protein folding – one the most important unsolved biological problems, is generating large amounts of complex data. This proposal aims to develop a highly collaborative content management system and interactive data mining tools that will allow the open exchange and analysis of protein folding data. A chief goal of this proposal is, by creating a rich informatics envir ....Development of a collaborative online environment and workbench for the investigation of protein folding. The investigation of protein folding – one the most important unsolved biological problems, is generating large amounts of complex data. This proposal aims to develop a highly collaborative content management system and interactive data mining tools that will allow the open exchange and analysis of protein folding data. A chief goal of this proposal is, by creating a rich informatics environment, to foster the exchange of ideas and rapid dissemination of new data across the international array of groups working in parallel on various aspects of the folding problem.Read moreRead less
Oxidative stress-induced alterations of the host erythrocyte by the malaria parasite. The malaria parasite spends part of its lifecycle inside the red blood cells of its host. During this time, the parasite modifies many of the features of the red blood cell and subjects it to high levels of oxidative stress. We will use and develop a variety of fluorescence and microscopic techniques to understand the molecular basis of the alterations in the organization of membrane proteins in malaria parasit ....Oxidative stress-induced alterations of the host erythrocyte by the malaria parasite. The malaria parasite spends part of its lifecycle inside the red blood cells of its host. During this time, the parasite modifies many of the features of the red blood cell and subjects it to high levels of oxidative stress. We will use and develop a variety of fluorescence and microscopic techniques to understand the molecular basis of the alterations in the organization of membrane proteins in malaria parasite-infected red blood cells. We will examine the roles of oxidative stress and of parasite proteins in modulating the properties of the host cell membrane.Read moreRead less
Complexity in a mesoscopic model of brain dynamics. Research into how the brain work remains at the frontier of human knowledge. We possess only the vaguest idea how the brain is able to generate memories, perceptions and behaviour. This research proposal concerns new approaches aimed at bridging this gap in our understanding by developing and studying detailed theories of the brain's electrical activity. The outcomes of this work will not only suggest improved diagnostic methods and treatments ....Complexity in a mesoscopic model of brain dynamics. Research into how the brain work remains at the frontier of human knowledge. We possess only the vaguest idea how the brain is able to generate memories, perceptions and behaviour. This research proposal concerns new approaches aimed at bridging this gap in our understanding by developing and studying detailed theories of the brain's electrical activity. The outcomes of this work will not only suggest improved diagnostic methods and treatments but contribute vital knowledge about how to control and predict the behaviour of complex systems.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560657
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$740,000.00
Summary
Ultra-High Resolution NMR Imaging System for Nanotechnology including Nanobiotechnology. The ultra-high resolution imaging NMR spectrometer at the centre of this application is a generation ahead of comparable facilities in Australia and will extend the research capacity of numerous research groups comprising in excess of 50 academics and postgraduate students. The aims and significance of this infrastructure lie in it being one of the centrepieces of the partner institutions' aspirations to tak ....Ultra-High Resolution NMR Imaging System for Nanotechnology including Nanobiotechnology. The ultra-high resolution imaging NMR spectrometer at the centre of this application is a generation ahead of comparable facilities in Australia and will extend the research capacity of numerous research groups comprising in excess of 50 academics and postgraduate students. The aims and significance of this infrastructure lie in it being one of the centrepieces of the partner institutions' aspirations to take Australia to the cutting edge of nanotechnology and cognate disciplines many of which are areas of national priority. The expected manifold outcomes include research of the highest rank into fundamental problems of drug development through to applied outcomes such as new nanomaterials and improved horticulture/fruit preservation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0238898
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$352,000.00
Summary
Novel Optical Microprobes - fluorescence excitation, lifetime and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopies. State-of-the-art technologies in microscopy will be combined with the versatility and diagnostic power of spectroscopy for the analysis and identification of materials by methods sensitive to chemical structure as well as spatial inhomogeneity. The proposed systems will operate within an existing multi-user optical characterisation facility at Macquarie University thus supporting the research ....Novel Optical Microprobes - fluorescence excitation, lifetime and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopies. State-of-the-art technologies in microscopy will be combined with the versatility and diagnostic power of spectroscopy for the analysis and identification of materials by methods sensitive to chemical structure as well as spatial inhomogeneity. The proposed systems will operate within an existing multi-user optical characterisation facility at Macquarie University thus supporting the research of an established and expanding network of researchers in the Sydney area and in Melbourne. The suite of instruments will provide new and exciting avenues for interdisciplinary research between the physical and biological sciencesRead moreRead less
Probing membrane rafts using surface-selective multi-dimensional microscopy. The results of this project will provide fundamental insights into the role played by domains in cell membranes in the regulation of membrane protein function. These insights will create new avenues in the biotechnology industry for development of novel therapeutics aimed at disruption of membrane protein-protein interactions that cause aberant cell signalling in disease states such as cancer.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0237527
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,000.00
Summary
Bioscope IV : Advanced Scanned Probe Microscopy. The Atomic Force Microscope presents a unique view of the microscopic and molecular world, for it is sensitive to force alone. This instrument can accurately map force over a surface at the molecular scale; picoNewtons at nanometre resolution. The host of intermolecular forces which cause phenomena such as self-assembly, colloid stability, cell interactions and friction are only directly measurable with this technique. In this field of force meas ....Bioscope IV : Advanced Scanned Probe Microscopy. The Atomic Force Microscope presents a unique view of the microscopic and molecular world, for it is sensitive to force alone. This instrument can accurately map force over a surface at the molecular scale; picoNewtons at nanometre resolution. The host of intermolecular forces which cause phenomena such as self-assembly, colloid stability, cell interactions and friction are only directly measurable with this technique. In this field of force measurement Australian researchers are leaders. The proposed instrument expands the capabilities of this effort, and develops exciting new directions including the direct manipulation of molecules through a novel feedback and control (haptic) interface.Read moreRead less