Multi-functional probes for global analysis of proteome stress in cells. This project aims to create a suite of multi-functional chemical probes to identify damaged proteins that undergo unfolding or specific modifications in cells under stress. These probes will not only generate fluorescence responses to reflect on protein quality control capacity but allow associated proteins and their networks to be identified in complex cellular environments, which is difficult to achieve by current methods ....Multi-functional probes for global analysis of proteome stress in cells. This project aims to create a suite of multi-functional chemical probes to identify damaged proteins that undergo unfolding or specific modifications in cells under stress. These probes will not only generate fluorescence responses to reflect on protein quality control capacity but allow associated proteins and their networks to be identified in complex cellular environments, which is difficult to achieve by current methods. The expected outcome is to deliver new methodology for a comprehensive understanding of the correlation between quality control machinery, stress responses and cell functions. This should provide significant benefits, including contributing to fundamental knowledge on the molecular causes of neurodegenerative diseases.Read moreRead less
The colour of cellular aging: a deep probe of cellular processes. Understanding why we age and whether aging is preventable are profound research challenges, which must be first tackled at a cellular level. Building on our advances in non-invasive colour monitoring of cell function, this project aims to uncover intimate links between cellular processes and aging in cells that must survive for many decades such as oocytes and neurons. We will explore the tantalising possibility to rejuvenate such ....The colour of cellular aging: a deep probe of cellular processes. Understanding why we age and whether aging is preventable are profound research challenges, which must be first tackled at a cellular level. Building on our advances in non-invasive colour monitoring of cell function, this project aims to uncover intimate links between cellular processes and aging in cells that must survive for many decades such as oocytes and neurons. We will explore the tantalising possibility to rejuvenate such aged cells by interfering with molecular master switches of aging. A unique machine learning approach will be applied for finding the most effective interventions. The results will have broad impact beyond the science of aging, in the areas of female fertility, neurodegeneration and immunity.
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Characterization of the dark metabolome of eukaryotic cells. The project aims to investigate the full metabolic potential of a group of eukaryotic organisms using advanced analytical and computational techniques. It will identify novel metabolites and enzyme activities that are currently not predicted from genome annotations. Expected outcomes of the project include the delineation of new metabolic processes that are common to all eukaryotes, the characterization of new enzymes families, and the ....Characterization of the dark metabolome of eukaryotic cells. The project aims to investigate the full metabolic potential of a group of eukaryotic organisms using advanced analytical and computational techniques. It will identify novel metabolites and enzyme activities that are currently not predicted from genome annotations. Expected outcomes of the project include the delineation of new metabolic processes that are common to all eukaryotes, the characterization of new enzymes families, and the generation of comprehensive metabolic databases. An improved understanding of cellular metabolism will provide direct benefits in biotechnology, food production, environmental monitoring and the diagnosis and treatment of human metabolic and infectious diseases. Read moreRead less
Understanding chaperone function, one molecule at a time. This project aims to determine how molecular chaperones, a class of proteins represented in all phyla of life, work together to keep proteins folded and functional, particularly following cellular stress. This is important as proteins are involved in virtually all biological processes. This project will exploit innovative microscopy techniques to watch these molecular chaperones as they work. Expected outcomes of this project are the firs ....Understanding chaperone function, one molecule at a time. This project aims to determine how molecular chaperones, a class of proteins represented in all phyla of life, work together to keep proteins folded and functional, particularly following cellular stress. This is important as proteins are involved in virtually all biological processes. This project will exploit innovative microscopy techniques to watch these molecular chaperones as they work. Expected outcomes of this project are the first definitive description of how molecular chaperones interact to refold proteins, and the development of novel methods to study dynamic biological processes. This should provide significant benefits including enhanced collaboration and scientific capacity in Australia.Read moreRead less
Structure and metabolism of bioactive carbohydrates from brown algae. Brown algae produce a diversity of species-specific carbohydrates in their cell walls that exhibit a variety of biological activities that can be exploited for the development of functional food and biopharmaceutical formulations. However, the metabolic pathways responsible for the biosynthesis of these carbohydrates are poorly characterised. This multidisciplinary project aims to understand the molecular events that control t ....Structure and metabolism of bioactive carbohydrates from brown algae. Brown algae produce a diversity of species-specific carbohydrates in their cell walls that exhibit a variety of biological activities that can be exploited for the development of functional food and biopharmaceutical formulations. However, the metabolic pathways responsible for the biosynthesis of these carbohydrates are poorly characterised. This multidisciplinary project aims to understand the molecular events that control the structure and metabolism of bioactive carbohydrates in the prominent Australian brown alga Ecklonia radiata, with particular focus on alginates and fucoidans. This knowledge will be used to produce in yeast bioactive oligosaccharides that are of high commercial interest to the biopharmaceutical industry.Read moreRead less
Characterising the transport and delivery of oligonucleotides . Short RNA and DNA molecules represent a class of macromolecules that have great potential, but to facilitate their trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers into specific sites of action is challenging. This project aims to develop and apply novel imaging approaches to track them in cells and tissues. Expected outcomes include better understanding of the trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers, and improved imaging ....Characterising the transport and delivery of oligonucleotides . Short RNA and DNA molecules represent a class of macromolecules that have great potential, but to facilitate their trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers into specific sites of action is challenging. This project aims to develop and apply novel imaging approaches to track them in cells and tissues. Expected outcomes include better understanding of the trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers, and improved imaging tools that could be used to further study the molecular mechanisms of accumulation, metabolism and trafficking of these molecules. This project should provide new strategies to target these molecules to specific cells and tissues, which have significant social and economic benefits to the Australian community.Read moreRead less
An integrated nano-bioengineered chip for enhanced molecular evolution. This project aims to develop a novel molecular evolution platform technology for the rapid selection of high value target binding molecules from diverse molecular libraries using an electrically activated nanofluidic chip coated with target. Significant outcomes from the project is the controlled selection of target binding molecules that is not possible with current methods and improved understanding of nanoforce driven mol ....An integrated nano-bioengineered chip for enhanced molecular evolution. This project aims to develop a novel molecular evolution platform technology for the rapid selection of high value target binding molecules from diverse molecular libraries using an electrically activated nanofluidic chip coated with target. Significant outcomes from the project is the controlled selection of target binding molecules that is not possible with current methods and improved understanding of nanoforce driven molecular collisions on nano-bioengineered surfaces. This provides significant benefits, creating new knowledge in nanomaterials and advanced manufacturing of nanofabricated devices, creating commercial interest and positioning Australia at the forefront of molecular discovery technology, a highly valuable global market.
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Developing next-generation mass spectrometry imaging with isomer resolution. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a rapidly emerging technology for mapping molecular distributions within biological samples. This project will bring together market-leading MSI instrumentation from the industry partner Waters Corporation with unique technologies developed at QUT and UOW to develop an integrated MSI-platform capable of achieving high mass- and spatial-resolution, as well as discrimination of lipid iso ....Developing next-generation mass spectrometry imaging with isomer resolution. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a rapidly emerging technology for mapping molecular distributions within biological samples. This project will bring together market-leading MSI instrumentation from the industry partner Waters Corporation with unique technologies developed at QUT and UOW to develop an integrated MSI-platform capable of achieving high mass- and spatial-resolution, as well as discrimination of lipid isomers. Resolution of lipid isomers using this instrumentation will afford researchers a first glimpse of isomer-resolved images that will be used to visualise tissue-specific changes resulting from underlying chemical, physical or metabolic processes; changes that are currently invisible to contemporary imaging technologies.Read moreRead less
Pluses and minuses of lipid mass spectrometry. This project aims to investigate the structural diversity of lipids. Lipids are among the most structurally diverse of all the biomolecules and thus deciphering their many functions requires bio-analytical technologies capable of uniquely identifying and quantifying individual molecules in a milieu of many thousands of analogues. Mass spectrometry is the pre-eminent technique for contemporary lipid analysis but is challenged by the preference of cer ....Pluses and minuses of lipid mass spectrometry. This project aims to investigate the structural diversity of lipids. Lipids are among the most structurally diverse of all the biomolecules and thus deciphering their many functions requires bio-analytical technologies capable of uniquely identifying and quantifying individual molecules in a milieu of many thousands of analogues. Mass spectrometry is the pre-eminent technique for contemporary lipid analysis but is challenged by the preference of certain lipids to ionise with a polarity that affords sensitive detection but does not permit detailed structure elucidation. This project will develop advanced instrumentation capable of on-demand polarity switching of ionised lipids such that the detection and interrogation of molecular structure can take place in the optimal charge state.Read moreRead less