Remodelling encapsulin nanocages to help enhance plant carbon fixation. Nature has evolved mechanisms in microbial systems to improve photosynthetic efficiency by saturating the enzyme Rubisco with carbon dioxide. These carbon concentrating mechanisms are genetically complex, precluding successful introduction into crops. Our simpler approach is to use encapsulins, a new source of robust bacterial pore-containing nanocages made from a single gene. This project will optimise the development of sy ....Remodelling encapsulin nanocages to help enhance plant carbon fixation. Nature has evolved mechanisms in microbial systems to improve photosynthetic efficiency by saturating the enzyme Rubisco with carbon dioxide. These carbon concentrating mechanisms are genetically complex, precluding successful introduction into crops. Our simpler approach is to use encapsulins, a new source of robust bacterial pore-containing nanocages made from a single gene. This project will optimise the development of synthetic encapsulin-Rubisco carbon-fixing nanoreactors and transform them into leaf chloroplasts to test their impact on plant photosynthesis and growth. Our genetically simpler solution will aid ongoing global efforts to deliver overdue step change improvements in agricultural productivity.Read moreRead less
Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of dual function transporter/channels. This project aims to understand how a membrane protein that transports chemical messengers in the brain functions and how it is influenced by the membrane in which it is embedded. Cells from all life forms have a lipid membrane that separates them from their external environment. These membranes contain proteins that control the movements of molecules into and out of cells and are vital for a plethora of physiological pr ....Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of dual function transporter/channels. This project aims to understand how a membrane protein that transports chemical messengers in the brain functions and how it is influenced by the membrane in which it is embedded. Cells from all life forms have a lipid membrane that separates them from their external environment. These membranes contain proteins that control the movements of molecules into and out of cells and are vital for a plethora of physiological processes including cell-to-cell communication. The outcomes of this study will include new knowledge of this process and chemical modifiers of this transport protein. This project will benefit structural biology and biophysics training and may lead to the development of novel compounds that can be used to explore function. Read moreRead less
Flipping the mattress: infinite polyurethane recycling by synthetic biology. Australia is covered in billions of tonnes of plastic and yet <10% is recycled today. Polyurethane (PU) is ubiquitous in our everyday lives, from lacquer coatings to elastane clothing to durable foam padding in car seats, cushions and mattresses. Currently, there are few avenues for PU recycling and much ends up in landfill e.g., a single mattress produces 15-20kg of PU foam waste. Luckily, biodegradation of PU can occu ....Flipping the mattress: infinite polyurethane recycling by synthetic biology. Australia is covered in billions of tonnes of plastic and yet <10% is recycled today. Polyurethane (PU) is ubiquitous in our everyday lives, from lacquer coatings to elastane clothing to durable foam padding in car seats, cushions and mattresses. Currently, there are few avenues for PU recycling and much ends up in landfill e.g., a single mattress produces 15-20kg of PU foam waste. Luckily, biodegradation of PU can occur naturally via various microbial means and from insects, like Galleria mellonella larvae. The overall aim of this research project is to understand plastic biodegradation and translate nature’s solutions into flexible and efficient synthetic enzyme technologies that can sustainably recycle commonly used PU foams. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101536
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$473,824.00
Summary
How does heme regulate blood vessel formation in the brain? There are more than 600 kilometres of blood vessels in the brain, all of which are lined by tightly packed cells that protect the brain from toxins. My research aims to investigate how these blood vessels are formed. This project expects to reveal the role that a critical signalling molecule called heme plays in this fundamental biological process. I will use cutting-edge structural biology and biophysical techniques to uncover the mole ....How does heme regulate blood vessel formation in the brain? There are more than 600 kilometres of blood vessels in the brain, all of which are lined by tightly packed cells that protect the brain from toxins. My research aims to investigate how these blood vessels are formed. This project expects to reveal the role that a critical signalling molecule called heme plays in this fundamental biological process. I will use cutting-edge structural biology and biophysical techniques to uncover the molecular mechanisms that allow heme to enter cells and regulate blood vessel growth in the brain. The outcomes of this research will enhance our understanding of the brain’s core infrastructure and will contribute to an understanding of how cerebral blood vessels grow and maintain integrity. Read moreRead less
In depth characterisation of the gamma delta T cell immune synapse. This project aims to comprehensively characterise the activation principles of gamma delta T cells. These cells have an understudied but central role in vertebrate immunity and development. A missing piece of the puzzle is how gamma delta T cells sense stress and how this signal leads to activation. Expected outcomes include the generation of fundamental knowledge in immunology and structural biology. This proposal uses high-ski ....In depth characterisation of the gamma delta T cell immune synapse. This project aims to comprehensively characterise the activation principles of gamma delta T cells. These cells have an understudied but central role in vertebrate immunity and development. A missing piece of the puzzle is how gamma delta T cells sense stress and how this signal leads to activation. Expected outcomes include the generation of fundamental knowledge in immunology and structural biology. This proposal uses high-skilled techniques, including cryo-electron microscopy and single-molecule imaging and holds ancillary benefits to postgraduate students. Anticipated outcomes include influential publications, building a critical mass of expertise in Australia and fostering international collaborations with Australia at the epicentre.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240101055
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$448,737.00
Summary
How blood vessel stiffness regulates their growth and maintenance. This project aims to reveal an unidentified molecular mechanism of how endothelial cells in the walls of blood vessels detect stiffness of the surrounding environment in order to regulate blood vessel growth and maintenance. The results are expected to advance the emerging field of mechanobiology by combining cutting-edge cell biology and microscopy techniques carried out in novel 3D cell culture and unique quail models. The bene ....How blood vessel stiffness regulates their growth and maintenance. This project aims to reveal an unidentified molecular mechanism of how endothelial cells in the walls of blood vessels detect stiffness of the surrounding environment in order to regulate blood vessel growth and maintenance. The results are expected to advance the emerging field of mechanobiology by combining cutting-edge cell biology and microscopy techniques carried out in novel 3D cell culture and unique quail models. The benefits of these outcomes include generation of knowledge on the impact of tissue stiffness on the signalling mechanisms that drive formation and maintenance of blood vessels. In the long term, this fundamental understanding could give rise to major developments in emerging industries such as organ bioengineering.Read moreRead less
Sensing biomechanical forces in the heart. Mechanosensitive ion channels are key molecules that define how each heart cell interacts with their physical environment. Yet how they enable cells to decode biomechanical cues remains poorly understood. At the heart of this problem is a lack of tools to quantify the force required for activation. This project aims to develop novel technologies to record the activity of these essential channels in a critical cell type within the heart, and use this inf ....Sensing biomechanical forces in the heart. Mechanosensitive ion channels are key molecules that define how each heart cell interacts with their physical environment. Yet how they enable cells to decode biomechanical cues remains poorly understood. At the heart of this problem is a lack of tools to quantify the force required for activation. This project aims to develop novel technologies to record the activity of these essential channels in a critical cell type within the heart, and use this information in addition to micro-engineering approaches to fully understand the role of these channels in force sensing and generation, at both the single cell and micro-tissue levels. This knowledge and technology has broad utility that extends far beyond cardiac biology into multiple fields.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101128
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$444,154.00
Summary
Decode Neuro-Mechanobiology:mechanosensitive ion channels in proprioception. Human bodies are densely covered with numerous mechanosensory neurons that provide us with the sense of touch and pain. However, the molecular force sensors remain poorly identified. This project aims at defining the fundamental roles of mechanosensitive ion channels to sense and respond to various mechanical stimuli, and how their responses may encode mechanical cues.The ultimate goal is to provide a fundamentally new ....Decode Neuro-Mechanobiology:mechanosensitive ion channels in proprioception. Human bodies are densely covered with numerous mechanosensory neurons that provide us with the sense of touch and pain. However, the molecular force sensors remain poorly identified. This project aims at defining the fundamental roles of mechanosensitive ion channels to sense and respond to various mechanical stimuli, and how their responses may encode mechanical cues.The ultimate goal is to provide a fundamentally new understanding of proprioception and motion sensing. The new multimodality approach generated in this project is expected to evolve as a national facility for neuro-mechanobiology, and future research may lead to the inspiration of novel bionic sensor design and brain-computer interface for future neuroengineering industry.Read moreRead less