Sugars in the real world: are cultured cancer cells a good model system for studying protein glycosylation? It is challenging to study errors in metabolism in human beings, so researchers use cells grown in the laboratory to understand disease processes. This project will determine if cultured cells accurately reflect the real changes to cell surface sugars that occur in all cancers, and the effect of these changes on the invasive properties of colon cancer cells.
Identifying genes controlling the regulatory and metabolic interactions between the energy organelles of the leaf. Plant energy metabolism underlies the synthesis of many important products in crops, and subtle changes in metabolism can enhance key plant traits, such as germination rates, early seedling vigour, biomass/yield, and tolerance to harsh environments. Furthering our understanding on the complex interplay of genes controlling energy metabolism and its impact on leaf function has potent ....Identifying genes controlling the regulatory and metabolic interactions between the energy organelles of the leaf. Plant energy metabolism underlies the synthesis of many important products in crops, and subtle changes in metabolism can enhance key plant traits, such as germination rates, early seedling vigour, biomass/yield, and tolerance to harsh environments. Furthering our understanding on the complex interplay of genes controlling energy metabolism and its impact on leaf function has potential outcomes for smart genetic manipulation either by classical breeding or genetic transformation. There are more than 10,000 genes of unknown function in plant genomes and this represents a tremendous untapped resource for future Australian R&D outcomes and insights from this research proposal will have application to all plant-based agriculture.Read moreRead less
Molecular control of embryonic diapause. Many species can halt growth of the early embryo (diapause). This project will use novel animal models and new proteomics techniques to clarify what signals from the uterus control diapause of the embryo. This may uncover new mechanisms for cell regulation that will be relevant to the biology of stem cells, cancer and reproductive technologies.