Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453839
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$386,892.00
Summary
Adelaide Core Laser Capture Microscopy Facility. Laser Capture Microscopy represents a powerful and essential tool in many aspects of modern cell and molecular biology. Although the applications for these machines are very broad, overall the technology can be viewed as allowing collection of rare cells (or objects as small as bacteria and organelles) from complex tissues and cells. This proposal concerns infrastructure funding to obtain a state-of-the-art core Laser Capture Microscope facility ....Adelaide Core Laser Capture Microscopy Facility. Laser Capture Microscopy represents a powerful and essential tool in many aspects of modern cell and molecular biology. Although the applications for these machines are very broad, overall the technology can be viewed as allowing collection of rare cells (or objects as small as bacteria and organelles) from complex tissues and cells. This proposal concerns infrastructure funding to obtain a state-of-the-art core Laser Capture Microscope facility in Adelaide that will significantly enhance scientific progress in a diverse range of areas including functional genomics of animal, plant and prokaryotic cells.Read moreRead less
Synthesis of substrate analogues for probing catalytic mechanisms and specificity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of plant polysaccharides. The project is aimed at strengthening collaborations between research groups in Adelaide and France, with the specific objective of synthesizing substrate analogues as probes of enzymatic mechanisms and substrate specificity in polysaccharide hydrolases and synthases of barley. The chemical expertise resides in France, while the enzymatic work will be ....Synthesis of substrate analogues for probing catalytic mechanisms and specificity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of plant polysaccharides. The project is aimed at strengthening collaborations between research groups in Adelaide and France, with the specific objective of synthesizing substrate analogues as probes of enzymatic mechanisms and substrate specificity in polysaccharide hydrolases and synthases of barley. The chemical expertise resides in France, while the enzymatic work will be conducted largely in Australia. Exchange of research staff, particularly at the postgraduate student and research associate levels, is considered essential to capture the benefits of the complementary expertise and to extend an existing international collaboration. The target enzymes are of central importance in cell wall metabolism during development of higher plants.Read moreRead less
Molecular mechanisms of catalysis and the basis of substrate specificity in polysaccharide hydrolases. Reaction intermediates along hydrolytic pathways and molecular determinants of substrate specificity of barley B-glucan exo- and endohydrolases will be defined using crystallographic and kinetic analyses. These enzymes are of central importance in cell wall metabolism during development of higher plants, and in plant-pathogen interactions. Realization of the project objectives will not only pro ....Molecular mechanisms of catalysis and the basis of substrate specificity in polysaccharide hydrolases. Reaction intermediates along hydrolytic pathways and molecular determinants of substrate specificity of barley B-glucan exo- and endohydrolases will be defined using crystallographic and kinetic analyses. These enzymes are of central importance in cell wall metabolism during development of higher plants, and in plant-pathogen interactions. Realization of the project objectives will not only provide fundamental information on catalytic mechanisms, but will also provide opportunities to manipulate enzyme specificity. Further, site-directed mutagenesis of the enzymes will be used to generate glycosynthases, which will be evaluated for their ability to synthesise novel oligosaccharide and polysaccharide products, some of which might show immunomodulating activity.Read moreRead less
Determining how the soluble dietary fibre beta-glucan is made in cereals. This Project aims to define the molecular mechanisms that control the processes involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of mixed linkage glucan, a major soluble dietary fibre in the cell walls of cereal grains. Plant cell walls determine the quality of most plant-based products used in modern human societies, yet the regulatory mechanisms responsible for their modulation are not well understood. Key distinguishing feat ....Determining how the soluble dietary fibre beta-glucan is made in cereals. This Project aims to define the molecular mechanisms that control the processes involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of mixed linkage glucan, a major soluble dietary fibre in the cell walls of cereal grains. Plant cell walls determine the quality of most plant-based products used in modern human societies, yet the regulatory mechanisms responsible for their modulation are not well understood. Key distinguishing features of the Project will be the international, integrative, and multidisciplinary approach towards addressing this major challenge in plant biology and the potential of the fundamental scientific discoveries to benefit end-users in the food, feed and beverage industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100090
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
Three-dimensional cryo electron microscopy facility. The three-dimensional cryo-electron microscopy facility will let us visualise plants, pathogens and nanomachines with resolution not previously possible allowing us to see into cells and diseases with vastly more detail. Our world-class experts will provide regional and national researchers access to cutting-edge technology complementary to the Australian Synchrotron.
Polysaccharide Synthase Genes in Agro-Industrial Applications. Achievement of the project aims will generate valuable intellectual property and meet National Research Priorities by: enhancing our knowledge base for the production of renewable bio-fuels from crop residues, for an environmentally sustainable Australia; developing preventative healthcare through adoption of healthier diets, rich in non-starchy cell wall polysaccharides that help reduce the incidence and severity of cardiovascular d ....Polysaccharide Synthase Genes in Agro-Industrial Applications. Achievement of the project aims will generate valuable intellectual property and meet National Research Priorities by: enhancing our knowledge base for the production of renewable bio-fuels from crop residues, for an environmentally sustainable Australia; developing preventative healthcare through adoption of healthier diets, rich in non-starchy cell wall polysaccharides that help reduce the incidence and severity of cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and some cancers; and by developing breakthrough science in emerging agricultural technologies. The alliance will foster an intellectual environment to provide world-class basic research outcomes and training of highly skilled graduates, thereby contributing to the 'knowledge nation'.Read moreRead less
Regulation of Cellulose Biosynthesis in Commercially Important Cereal Crop Species. The long term strategic research alliance with DuPont Pioneer will lead to the development of breakthrough science in emerging technologies that are relevant: a) to agricultural production, b) to human health and c) to renewable bio-fuel production from crop residues. The alliance will attract significant international investment in Australian research and foster an intellectual environment for world-class resear ....Regulation of Cellulose Biosynthesis in Commercially Important Cereal Crop Species. The long term strategic research alliance with DuPont Pioneer will lead to the development of breakthrough science in emerging technologies that are relevant: a) to agricultural production, b) to human health and c) to renewable bio-fuel production from crop residues. The alliance will attract significant international investment in Australian research and foster an intellectual environment for world-class research training of postgraduate students and postdoctoral scientists, in both a higher education and an industry context.Read moreRead less
Identifying novel salinity tolerance mechanisms by spatial and temporal analysis of lipids in barley. Agrifood production faces the dual challenges of an increasing world population and the threats of abiotic stresses arising from climate change and the erosion of arable land. Cereals, the major food crops, are poorly adapted to tolerate most abiotic stresses, including salinity. This project applies new technologies investigating spatial and temporal biochemical mechanisms a model cereal, Horde ....Identifying novel salinity tolerance mechanisms by spatial and temporal analysis of lipids in barley. Agrifood production faces the dual challenges of an increasing world population and the threats of abiotic stresses arising from climate change and the erosion of arable land. Cereals, the major food crops, are poorly adapted to tolerate most abiotic stresses, including salinity. This project applies new technologies investigating spatial and temporal biochemical mechanisms a model cereal, Hordeum vulgare (barley), utilises to adapt and tolerate salinity. The aims are to investigate the role of specifically plasma membrane lipids modulating either signalling pathways or membrane fluidity that impacts on adaptation during salinity. The results will provide new leads for the development of cereal germplasm with increased salt tolerance.Read moreRead less
Isolation and functional characterisation of a pathogen meta effector able to inhibit detection of multiple disease effectors by resistant plants. The rust fungi are a major economic threat to crop production in Australia. This project will investigate the molecular mechanism used by a rust fungus to prevent detection of multiple disease-inducing proteins by resistant plants and generate knowledge that will lead to the development of new and more effective disease control strategies.
Characterisation of PQ loop proteins in plants: are they voltage insensitive nonselective cation channels? Millions of hectares of Australian agricultural land are affected by salinity. This results in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each year. The identification of the pathway for the initial influx of Na+ into plants from the soil will be important in helping to develop crop plants that are salt tolerant. This will increase our understanding of the mechanisms of salinity ....Characterisation of PQ loop proteins in plants: are they voltage insensitive nonselective cation channels? Millions of hectares of Australian agricultural land are affected by salinity. This results in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue each year. The identification of the pathway for the initial influx of Na+ into plants from the soil will be important in helping to develop crop plants that are salt tolerant. This will increase our understanding of the mechanisms of salinity tolerance, an area of great importance to Australian agriculture and environmental sustainability. The future applications of this work will increase agricultural productivity and enhance the quality of life for both Australians and the international community.Read moreRead less