Matching Supply And Demand: How Does Metabolism Fine-tune Signal Transduction?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$316,449.00
Summary
Insulin controls nutrient traffic and disrupting its actions are linked to many diseases: type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease. Here, I will test a novel hypothesis that our cells’ metabolic rate, defined by the balance between nutrient supply and energy expenditure, controls how cells respond to insulin. These metabolic regulatory nodes would play a major determinant of many essential functions linked to human health, and thus provide novel therapeutic targets for numerous diseases.
Investigating The Consequences Of Dysregulated Lipogenesis In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,647.00
Summary
Reprogramming of cellular metabolism is a hallmark of cancer. As such, there has been growing interest in developing strategies to exploit metabolism for therapeutic gain. Our ability to do this is dependent on a thorough understanding of the mechanisms by which dysregulation of cellular metabolism contributes to tumour progression. In this project, we seek to the investigate the fundamental mechanisms by which aberrant activation of lipid metabolism contributes to the tumourigenic process.
Role Of The Drug Metabolising Enzyme Arylamine N-acetyltransferase 1 In Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,196.00
Summary
The current project will identify the molecular mechanism(s) that underpins the significant changes in phenotype seen in a range of human cancer cells. The expected outcomes will be to demonstrate that NAT1 is critical for the clearance of pABG in cancer cells. The results will be important in the context of understanding this family of intracellular enzymes and will change the current thinking on the function of the arylamine N-acetyltransferase in normal and cancer cells.
Regulation of lipolysis: new players, new paradigms. The way in which fat is broken down is poorly understood. This research will determine how important proteins in fat breakdown are turned on and off. By understanding this relationship, effective pharmaceutical treatments will be developed that will enhance the capacity to burn fat and ultimately reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and ease the associated financial burden on the community and healthcare system. ....Regulation of lipolysis: new players, new paradigms. The way in which fat is broken down is poorly understood. This research will determine how important proteins in fat breakdown are turned on and off. By understanding this relationship, effective pharmaceutical treatments will be developed that will enhance the capacity to burn fat and ultimately reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and ease the associated financial burden on the community and healthcare system. Understanding fat breakdown is also important for developing new processing technologies in the food industry.Read moreRead less
Molecular basis of skeletal muscle lipoapoptosis. High levels of fat in cells are associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, medical conditions that have increased dramatically in prevalence in Australia. High fat levels in cells also causes cell death. This research will determine the mechanisms by which excessive fat storage leads to cell death and whether this leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. By understanding this relationship, effective pharmaceutical treatments will be dev ....Molecular basis of skeletal muscle lipoapoptosis. High levels of fat in cells are associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes, medical conditions that have increased dramatically in prevalence in Australia. High fat levels in cells also causes cell death. This research will determine the mechanisms by which excessive fat storage leads to cell death and whether this leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. By understanding this relationship, effective pharmaceutical treatments will be developed that will ultimately reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes, and ease the associated financial burden on the community and healthcare system.Read moreRead less
Characterisation And Targeting T Cellular Metabolism To Improve Control Of Chronic Viral Infections
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$791,427.00
Summary
CD8+ T cells are the frontline warriors of our immune system that can eliminate infected or cancerous cells. However, diseases caused by overwhelming viral infections are associated with widespread impairments in immunity and cellular metabolism. Here, we propose to examine molecular pathways involved in cellular metabolism that could be utilized to improve therapies against viral infection and cancer.
Is transport of miRNAs essential for plant development? This project will provide knowledge of how a new class of biologically active molecule (micro RNA) regulates expression of genes at sites in the plant that are critical for growth and development. MicroRNAs are believed to influence the size and shape of plants, how rapidly they grow and how well they produce and fill seeds. These molecules are part of a group of bioactive signals that move throughout the plant, functioning like hormones bu ....Is transport of miRNAs essential for plant development? This project will provide knowledge of how a new class of biologically active molecule (micro RNA) regulates expression of genes at sites in the plant that are critical for growth and development. MicroRNAs are believed to influence the size and shape of plants, how rapidly they grow and how well they produce and fill seeds. These molecules are part of a group of bioactive signals that move throughout the plant, functioning like hormones but directly influencing how well critical genes work. Their exploitation holds great promise for manipulating plant performance and enhancing crop yields. Read moreRead less
Investigation of a Novel Protein Implicated in Phosphate Metabolism in Bacteria. Phosphate is an important nutrient for all forms of life on Earth. A novel bacterial protein has been identified that appears to be important for the uptake or processing of phosphate, since mutants lacking the protein grow poorly inside certain cells of the human immune system (where phosphate levels are low) and in media containing low phosphate. The aims of this project are: to determine the role of the protein b ....Investigation of a Novel Protein Implicated in Phosphate Metabolism in Bacteria. Phosphate is an important nutrient for all forms of life on Earth. A novel bacterial protein has been identified that appears to be important for the uptake or processing of phosphate, since mutants lacking the protein grow poorly inside certain cells of the human immune system (where phosphate levels are low) and in media containing low phosphate. The aims of this project are: to determine the role of the protein by examining all phosphate containing molecules in our mutants; to determine its location in bacteria and functional domains; to identify other affected genes in our mutants; and, to find proteins that interact with this new protein. This project expects to demonstrate the importance of this protein in phosphate metabolism in bacteria.Read moreRead less
Acquisition of the mitochondrial genome restores mitochondrial function. The aim of this project is to show that cancer cells with heavily damaged mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can acquire the mitochondrial genome from the host and that this results in the recovery of their mitochondrial function. The project is highly significant, as it aims to show in vivo mitochondrial transfer with functional consequences. The project aims to open a new avenue of research and could result in a shift in our under ....Acquisition of the mitochondrial genome restores mitochondrial function. The aim of this project is to show that cancer cells with heavily damaged mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can acquire the mitochondrial genome from the host and that this results in the recovery of their mitochondrial function. The project is highly significant, as it aims to show in vivo mitochondrial transfer with functional consequences. The project aims to open a new avenue of research and could result in a shift in our understanding of some features of cellular communication and how cells can overcome unfavourable situations.Read moreRead less