Function Of The S100A1 Ca2+-binding Protein Under Physiological And Pathological Conditions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$452,545.00
Summary
The S100A1 protein is one of the most abundant proteins in human heart muscle cells. It binds calcium ions and may play a role in the regulation of heart function. S100A1 levels are reduced in human heart failure, but it is unclear whether this reduction contributes to worsening of the disease. To study this, we have generated a genetically modified mouse strain that cannot make the S100A1 protein. We will use these mice to study how important the protein is for heart function under normal condi ....The S100A1 protein is one of the most abundant proteins in human heart muscle cells. It binds calcium ions and may play a role in the regulation of heart function. S100A1 levels are reduced in human heart failure, but it is unclear whether this reduction contributes to worsening of the disease. To study this, we have generated a genetically modified mouse strain that cannot make the S100A1 protein. We will use these mice to study how important the protein is for heart function under normal conditions, and how it contributes to the development of heart failure. Preliminary data indicate that adult mice with reduced S100A1 protein levels develop a form of heart disease that significantly reduces the efficiency of the pump function of the heart.Read moreRead less
A Novel Cytokine-receptor Survival Axis In Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$424,731.00
Summary
Cancer cells grow and survive in an unrestrained manner. Current therapies target cancer growth, however they permit the long-term survival of some cancer cells and increase the possibility of drug resistance and disease relapse. We have identified a new molecular switch that is constitutively activated (unregulated) in leukemia. Targeting specific components of this unregulated cell survival may provide new and improved approaches for the development of therapeutics in the treatment of leukemia
Characterisation Of A New Family Of Proteins Involved In Cell Signalling, RNA Metabolism And Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,880.00
Summary
We have discovered a novel RNA-binding protein (G3BP-2) that is involved in responding to external signals, such as growth factors, at the level of gene expression. Other RNA-binding proteins belonging to the same broad group of proteins are responsible for a host of disease states in mammals including mental retardation, myotonic dystrophy, Huntington?s disease and cancers. Considering the wealth of knowledge accumulated that implicates these proteins to human dysfunction surprisingly few of th ....We have discovered a novel RNA-binding protein (G3BP-2) that is involved in responding to external signals, such as growth factors, at the level of gene expression. Other RNA-binding proteins belonging to the same broad group of proteins are responsible for a host of disease states in mammals including mental retardation, myotonic dystrophy, Huntington?s disease and cancers. Considering the wealth of knowledge accumulated that implicates these proteins to human dysfunction surprisingly few of these RNA-binding proteins have been identified. We have shown that the novel protein discovered in our laboratory is perturbed in cancer and we are interested in characterising its putative role in cancer. The results established in our laboratory so far would indicate that generally, G3BP-2 is expressed in normal tissue and it expression changes in some cancers studied so far. Considering that G3BP-2 lies in a pathway known to be involved in cancer progression it is important to understand what effects the inappropriate expression of G3BP-2 may have on cancer progression and survival. This project is designed to characterise what signals the cell uses to control these proteins and in turn which genes these may effect. In this way we may be able to determine how external signals may effect tumour progression and on what genes this influence is expressed. It would be hoped that this project would increase our understanding of cancer and potentially lead to new diagnostic reagents and therapies in the treatment of cancer.Read moreRead less