Deciphering the cellular functions of caveolae that govern lymphatic vascular development. Lymphatic vessels play crucial roles in tissue fluid homeostasis, immunity, and fatty acid transport. Despite our recent understanding of genetic pathways that modulate lymphatic cell fate specification, how cellular changes mediate morphogenesis of the lymphatic tree remains to be elucidated. This study will combine cell biology and developmental genetics approaches using mouse and zebrafish transgenic li ....Deciphering the cellular functions of caveolae that govern lymphatic vascular development. Lymphatic vessels play crucial roles in tissue fluid homeostasis, immunity, and fatty acid transport. Despite our recent understanding of genetic pathways that modulate lymphatic cell fate specification, how cellular changes mediate morphogenesis of the lymphatic tree remains to be elucidated. This study will combine cell biology and developmental genetics approaches using mouse and zebrafish transgenic lines that label lymphatic endothelial cells to investigate the role of caveolae proteins in the construction of the lymphatic vascular network. This project aims to improve our fundamental understanding of the processes that govern vascular system assembly and will broaden basic knowledge of organ morphogenesis. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102954
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Identifying and understanding the genetic regulators of cardiac development. The project aims to discover new genes involved in cardiac development so we can understand how to build a heart. Armed with this information, we can devise strategies for the repair of congenital and acquired heart disease.
Genetic dissection of cardiac morphogenesis. The human heart is critical for survival and yet, despite its importance, we still lack a basic understanding of how it forms. This project aims to discover new genes involved in cardiac development so we can understand how to build a heart. Armed with this information, this research will assist in devising strategies for the repair of congenital and acquired heart disease.
ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development. The Centre will create a multidisciplinary research team focusing on the molecular mechanisms that drive the specification and differentiation of male germ cells. This research will improve our fundamental understanding of how complex regulatory networks control the expression of a complex phenotype, the spermatozoon. It will also create a platform of knowledge from which we can stimulate the growth of the Australian Biotechnology indust ....ARC Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Development. The Centre will create a multidisciplinary research team focusing on the molecular mechanisms that drive the specification and differentiation of male germ cells. This research will improve our fundamental understanding of how complex regulatory networks control the expression of a complex phenotype, the spermatozoon. It will also create a platform of knowledge from which we can stimulate the growth of the Australian Biotechnology industry, the protection of the Australian Environment and the well-being of the Australian people. Key issues for this Centre include testicular cancer, male infertility, contraception, pest animal control, environmental impacts on human health and gene pharming.Read moreRead less
cell-cell adhesive force in vascular development. This project aims to utilize groundbreaking new approaches to visualize cell-cell adhesive forces in vascular development. Vascular system development is one of the earliest events in the vertebrate embryo. It has long been established that one major contributor to the formation of new vessels is physical force, which can be generated through blood flow or cell-cell interactions during tissue morphogenesis. The project plan utilizes live imaging ....cell-cell adhesive force in vascular development. This project aims to utilize groundbreaking new approaches to visualize cell-cell adhesive forces in vascular development. Vascular system development is one of the earliest events in the vertebrate embryo. It has long been established that one major contributor to the formation of new vessels is physical force, which can be generated through blood flow or cell-cell interactions during tissue morphogenesis. The project plan utilizes live imaging in zebrafish and a new generation of biosensors to gain a vastly deeper understanding of how force controls vessel formation.Read moreRead less
The impact of Hyaluronic Acid on growth factor signalling and angiogenesis. Blood vessel development is controlled by growth factor signalling. Vessels are attracted by and migrate along growth factor gradients, and this is controlled by the extracellular matrix (ECM). From the zebrafish model, we have identified a novel gene that modulates the ECM, impacting growth factor signalling and vessel development. The project will explore by what mechanism this gene impacts signalling. It will comprehe ....The impact of Hyaluronic Acid on growth factor signalling and angiogenesis. Blood vessel development is controlled by growth factor signalling. Vessels are attracted by and migrate along growth factor gradients, and this is controlled by the extracellular matrix (ECM). From the zebrafish model, we have identified a novel gene that modulates the ECM, impacting growth factor signalling and vessel development. The project will explore by what mechanism this gene impacts signalling. It will comprehensively define where in the embryo it is required and investigate what cofactors it interacts with to perform its function. Using genetic zebrafish and mouse models as well as cell culture models we will investigate the fundamental biology of this gene.Read moreRead less
Regulation of mammalian differentiation by methylation of histones and transcription factors. The objective of this proposal is to examine the functional role of arginine and lysine methylation during skeletal muscle differentiation. Differentiation, i.e the acquisition of a specific phenotype, is the biological end point of the ?Genome-Phenome? transition. Specifically, the proposal will seek to understand the role of protein methylation in the control of tissue specific gene expression and ce ....Regulation of mammalian differentiation by methylation of histones and transcription factors. The objective of this proposal is to examine the functional role of arginine and lysine methylation during skeletal muscle differentiation. Differentiation, i.e the acquisition of a specific phenotype, is the biological end point of the ?Genome-Phenome? transition. Specifically, the proposal will seek to understand the role of protein methylation in the control of tissue specific gene expression and cell signaling during differentiation. Key areas of study in the ARC priority area of Genome-Phenome research. We will test the hypothesis that the activity/function of the hierarchical myogenic transcription factors and cofactors that control skeletal myogenesis is influenced by protein methylation.Read moreRead less
Foundations of a good egg: correctly transitioning from mitosis to meiosis. Production of viable offspring is essential to the survival of any species. In all sexually reproducing species, this requires a unique cell type, the germ cell. Germ cells undergo a special type of cell division, called meiosis, so that they can eventually produce gametes (sperm in males and eggs in females). This project aims to discover how germ cells halt the standard form of cell division, called mitosis, and initia ....Foundations of a good egg: correctly transitioning from mitosis to meiosis. Production of viable offspring is essential to the survival of any species. In all sexually reproducing species, this requires a unique cell type, the germ cell. Germ cells undergo a special type of cell division, called meiosis, so that they can eventually produce gametes (sperm in males and eggs in females). This project aims to discover how germ cells halt the standard form of cell division, called mitosis, and initiate meiotic division instead. It is important to understand all the fundamental processes that occur during normal germ cell development so that, in the future, we can use this knowledge to support agricultural advances, rescue endangered species and solve human problems such as infertility and genetic disease.Read moreRead less
Inter-kingdom signalling in animal health and disease. This project aims to understand how animals can control their bacterial associates. Animals evolved in a world dominated by bacteria, and intimately associated microbes affect the development, health and disease of all animals – from corals to man. To date, animal-microbe interactions have been studied nearly exclusively in terms of how bacteria affect animals. the researchers have discovered that the coral Acropora can control its associate ....Inter-kingdom signalling in animal health and disease. This project aims to understand how animals can control their bacterial associates. Animals evolved in a world dominated by bacteria, and intimately associated microbes affect the development, health and disease of all animals – from corals to man. To date, animal-microbe interactions have been studied nearly exclusively in terms of how bacteria affect animals. the researchers have discovered that the coral Acropora can control its associated bacteria. Understanding how a simple animal manipulates its microbial associates should have implications for coral disease and resilience and for health and disease across the animal kingdom.Read moreRead less
Mechanisms that control the inheritance of mitochondrial DNA mutations. How do humans and other organisms prevent the accumulation of dangerous mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) mutations across generations? This Project aims to uncover the cellular and molecular pathways that help prevent the inheritance of mtDNA mutations to offspring by employing cutting-edge genetic technologies that the laboratory has recently developed in the germline of an animal model system. This Project will generate new kn ....Mechanisms that control the inheritance of mitochondrial DNA mutations. How do humans and other organisms prevent the accumulation of dangerous mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) mutations across generations? This Project aims to uncover the cellular and molecular pathways that help prevent the inheritance of mtDNA mutations to offspring by employing cutting-edge genetic technologies that the laboratory has recently developed in the germline of an animal model system. This Project will generate new knowledge in the area of mitochondrial genetics and evolution. Expected outcomes include the development of new theories for mtDNA inheritance, which should provide significant benefits for agricultural breeding programs and the interpretation of mtDNA inheritance patterns in the human population.Read moreRead less