Gating, specificity and regulation of the YggB channel protein from Corynebacterium glutamicum. The proposed research will greatly contribute to our understanding of the functioning of a bacterial membrane channel/transporter, which has played a significant role in biotechnology of commercially important amino acids. A direct national benefit will result from establishing collaboration with a leading German laboratory providing expertise in protein biochemistry and molecular microbiology not ava ....Gating, specificity and regulation of the YggB channel protein from Corynebacterium glutamicum. The proposed research will greatly contribute to our understanding of the functioning of a bacterial membrane channel/transporter, which has played a significant role in biotechnology of commercially important amino acids. A direct national benefit will result from establishing collaboration with a leading German laboratory providing expertise in protein biochemistry and molecular microbiology not available in Australia. The acquired knowledge will present an original contribution which will have a strong impact on a very competitive field of molecular microbiology and biotechnology.Read moreRead less
Bioinformatics network for the interrogation of adult stem cells. This project addresses the National Research Priority 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries'. The use of state of the art DNA sequencing results in huge amounts of data that is hard to interpret without the use of computers. This project builds Australia's capacity to deal with huge biological datasets by creating software and expertise in handling these datasets. The application of this softwa ....Bioinformatics network for the interrogation of adult stem cells. This project addresses the National Research Priority 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries'. The use of state of the art DNA sequencing results in huge amounts of data that is hard to interpret without the use of computers. This project builds Australia's capacity to deal with huge biological datasets by creating software and expertise in handling these datasets. The application of this software and expertise to our stem cell population in Parkinson's disease patients will enable new insight into the difference between patients and controls.Read moreRead less
NEURAL MECHANISMS UNDERLYING VISUAL CONTROL OF FLIGHT IN HONEYBEES. Recent behavioural studies of freely flying bees have uncovered novel principles by which bees regulate flight speed, avoid collisions with obstacles, orchestrate smooth landings and estimate distance flown. This is a proposal to investigate the neural mechanisms that mediate these behaviours. The results will provide new insights into the mechanisms subserving flight control and navigation, as well as suggest innovative, biolog ....NEURAL MECHANISMS UNDERLYING VISUAL CONTROL OF FLIGHT IN HONEYBEES. Recent behavioural studies of freely flying bees have uncovered novel principles by which bees regulate flight speed, avoid collisions with obstacles, orchestrate smooth landings and estimate distance flown. This is a proposal to investigate the neural mechanisms that mediate these behaviours. The results will provide new insights into the mechanisms subserving flight control and navigation, as well as suggest innovative, biologically inspired stratagems for the guidance of autonomous aerial vehicles, with applications in national defence and planetary exploration.Read moreRead less
Mass Spectrometric Investigations of Conformation and Dynamics of Biological Complexes. The new collaboration between the leading mass spectrometry groups at University Wollongong and Cambridge University will benefit both partners. Researchers at Wollongong will have access to an ion mobility mass spectrometry technology not currently available in Australia that will contribute to our understanding of complicated cellular processes such as chromosome replication. The researchers' experience wit ....Mass Spectrometric Investigations of Conformation and Dynamics of Biological Complexes. The new collaboration between the leading mass spectrometry groups at University Wollongong and Cambridge University will benefit both partners. Researchers at Wollongong will have access to an ion mobility mass spectrometry technology not currently available in Australia that will contribute to our understanding of complicated cellular processes such as chromosome replication. The researchers' experience with this technology will pave the way for introduction of the technology to Australia and benefit the wider scientific community in wide-ranging projects such as development of new antibiotics and vaccines. Students from both institutions will benefit from experiencing science from an international perspective.Read moreRead less
Single Molecule Studies of Replisomal Function. It has recently become possible to watch the copying of DNA molecules with a specialized microscope in real time. This process requires assembly of a complex molecular machine on the DNA, followed by triggering of its function, and yields exquisitely detailed information about how the machine works. In this new collaboration between scientists in Australia and the U.S.A., we will assemble these machines on single DNA molecules, watch how they work ....Single Molecule Studies of Replisomal Function. It has recently become possible to watch the copying of DNA molecules with a specialized microscope in real time. This process requires assembly of a complex molecular machine on the DNA, followed by triggering of its function, and yields exquisitely detailed information about how the machine works. In this new collaboration between scientists in Australia and the U.S.A., we will assemble these machines on single DNA molecules, watch how they work and simultaneously measure the very small forces that the machines generate. This will give Australian scientists access to a new technology for studying molecular machines.Read moreRead less
DNA Dynamics is Shear and Extensional Flows: Simulation and Single Molecule Experiments. The proposal seeks to establish a collaboration between Monash University and Stanford University in order to combine several recent experimental and theoretical advances that have been made by the individual groups in single molecule experimental techniques, extensional rheometry, and molecular rheology, to obtain new insights into the structure and dynamics of biopolymers. The central aim is to make a sign ....DNA Dynamics is Shear and Extensional Flows: Simulation and Single Molecule Experiments. The proposal seeks to establish a collaboration between Monash University and Stanford University in order to combine several recent experimental and theoretical advances that have been made by the individual groups in single molecule experimental techniques, extensional rheometry, and molecular rheology, to obtain new insights into the structure and dynamics of biopolymers. The central aim is to make a significant contribution towards bringing state-of-the-art techniques used for the characterization of polymeric systems to bear on the nature and origin of the elastic properties of biopolymers.Read moreRead less
Ubiquinone in Giardia: Amitochondrial component in an amitochondriate parasite. Giardia intestinalis is a fascinating organism, it is one of the most primitive nucleated organisms known and is responsible for ~280 million infections annually. Ubiquinone is usually associated with mitochondrial function, however it has been found in Giardia, which lacks this organelle. Our initial studies show that in Giardia, ubiquinone plays essential roles in electron transport pathways associated with membr ....Ubiquinone in Giardia: Amitochondrial component in an amitochondriate parasite. Giardia intestinalis is a fascinating organism, it is one of the most primitive nucleated organisms known and is responsible for ~280 million infections annually. Ubiquinone is usually associated with mitochondrial function, however it has been found in Giardia, which lacks this organelle. Our initial studies show that in Giardia, ubiquinone plays essential roles in electron transport pathways associated with membrane energisation and oxidative stress management. Elucidation of these mechanisms will have a major impact on the understanding of Giardia and other anaerobic organisms as well as being of significant evolutionary and medical importance.
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Diffractive Imaging using Soft X-rays and Electrons. Optical, electron and x-ray microscopy has yielded enormous biological insights and medical benefits to society. Optical microscopy is able to image live tissue, but at relatively low resolution. Electron microscopy can yield high resolution images, but only of highly prepared material. X-ray microscopy yields images of live tissue with a resolution that is intermediate between optical and electron microscopy. This project will provide Austral ....Diffractive Imaging using Soft X-rays and Electrons. Optical, electron and x-ray microscopy has yielded enormous biological insights and medical benefits to society. Optical microscopy is able to image live tissue, but at relatively low resolution. Electron microscopy can yield high resolution images, but only of highly prepared material. X-ray microscopy yields images of live tissue with a resolution that is intermediate between optical and electron microscopy. This project will provide Australian scientists with their first access to x-ray microscopy at its optimum wavelength; and secondly it will provide a superb testbed for x-ray microscopy to be enhanced using unique methods being developed in Australia.Read moreRead less
Increasing the Efficiency of Biomolecular Simulations. This program will extend the range of biomolecular systems that can be modelled with near atomistic precision. It will provide a better understanding of the structure and function of proteins involved in the regulation of membrane fusion and fission as well as shedding light on the assembly of large-scale protein-protein and protein-membrane complexes in general. The work will help place Australia at the forefront of developing simulation t ....Increasing the Efficiency of Biomolecular Simulations. This program will extend the range of biomolecular systems that can be modelled with near atomistic precision. It will provide a better understanding of the structure and function of proteins involved in the regulation of membrane fusion and fission as well as shedding light on the assembly of large-scale protein-protein and protein-membrane complexes in general. The work will help place Australia at the forefront of developing simulation techniques in biomolecular systems, which are widely used within the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. It will also provide opportunities for the training and development of young Australian researchers with top European laboratories. Read moreRead less
Biased information processing in anxiety: Low anxiety scores, but still at risk. Information processing in anxious persons is biased if confronted with threatening stimulus materials such as words or pictures. This finding has considerable implications for our understanding of fear acquisition and maintenance and for the design of therapeutic interventions. More recent research has shown, however, that low anxious persons who employ repressive coping styles show similar biases. The present proj ....Biased information processing in anxiety: Low anxiety scores, but still at risk. Information processing in anxious persons is biased if confronted with threatening stimulus materials such as words or pictures. This finding has considerable implications for our understanding of fear acquisition and maintenance and for the design of therapeutic interventions. More recent research has shown, however, that low anxious persons who employ repressive coping styles show similar biases. The present project will follow up on these findings by combining the expertises of the two CIs in contemporary cognitive and psychophysiological research. It will not only provide new insights, but also offer research opportunities for postgraduate students, and prospects for future collaborative funding.Read moreRead less