Multiplexed Molecular Reading of Protein Associations via Nanoscaled Devices. Current developments in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology hold many promises in terms of revolutionising our industrial base, transforming biology, medical science and practice. This project strives to achieve some of these goals by, for the first time, building and testing nano-scaled devices with the capability to rapidly ?read? information about complex protein associations. With the recent completion of the Human Ge ....Multiplexed Molecular Reading of Protein Associations via Nanoscaled Devices. Current developments in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology hold many promises in terms of revolutionising our industrial base, transforming biology, medical science and practice. This project strives to achieve some of these goals by, for the first time, building and testing nano-scaled devices with the capability to rapidly ?read? information about complex protein associations. With the recent completion of the Human Genome project, major opportunities exist to provide spectacular advances in human health care (eg, via novel diagnostics) provided that appropriate high-throughput biological reading devices can be developed. In developing such devices, this project also aims to catalyse the Australian Nanotechnology/Biotechnology industry.Read moreRead less
Development Of A Novel Bioengineered Tissue Construct For Repairing The Eye.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$335,817.00
Summary
Corneal diseases are often treated using donor tissue transplants. Nevertheless, donor tissue is unsuitable for treating the peripheral or limbal margin of the cornea. We have therefore developed a way to transplant sheets of limbal tissue (epithelium) grown in the laboratory from a patient's own cells, but this tissue lacks a foundation of connective tissue that we believe is essential for sustained healing. Thus, our aim is to develop a novel limbal transplant which contains both layers.
Polarized Trafficking Of E-cadherin In Epithelial Cells.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$515,564.00
Summary
The cell adhesion protein E-cadherin is expressed in all epithelial tissues of the body where it has essential functions during development and in the adult in establishing and maintaining polarized cell monolayers. E-cadherin is also a vital tumour suppressor, its normal function guarantees that cells or even early tumours cannot metastasise; in contrast E-cadherin is always lost or malfunctions in malignant tumours. Earlier studies showed that E-cadherin is constantly moved, or trafficked, to ....The cell adhesion protein E-cadherin is expressed in all epithelial tissues of the body where it has essential functions during development and in the adult in establishing and maintaining polarized cell monolayers. E-cadherin is also a vital tumour suppressor, its normal function guarantees that cells or even early tumours cannot metastasise; in contrast E-cadherin is always lost or malfunctions in malignant tumours. Earlier studies showed that E-cadherin is constantly moved, or trafficked, to and from the surface of epithelial cells. This trafficking has dual roles, firstly in delivering newly-made E-cadherin to the surface where it functions and secondly, in regulating its adhesive function. Our research in this project is focussed on the molecules and intracellular compartments that control the delivery of E-cadherin to the cell surface. E-cadherin must be sorted in order to be delivered to the correct side of the cell. Having previously discovered the sorting signal in E-cadherin, we will now identify the cognate adaptor protein(s) that accomplish this sorting. New imaging techniques allow us to study protein trafficking inside live cells. Such studies have recently revealed that E-cadherin passes through a recycling endosome compartment on its way to the cell surface. This unexpected route, and the structure and role of the recycling endosome will now be studied in detail in live cells. Finally we will compare the sorting and trafficking of E-cadherin with the closely-related N-cadherin protein, to determine whether there are inherent differences in their trafficking that could explain their opposite roles in tumour cells, where N-cadherin is substituted for E-cadherin and allows metastatic behaviour. These studies will provide important information for understanding the adhesive and tumour suppressive roles of E-cadherin. In addition our findings will generate information fundamental to our understanding of cell polarity and protein sorting.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347955
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
A Cell Sorter Facility for Neuroscience and Related Biotechnology. Neuroscience is entering an era of accelerated discovery in which Queensland neuroscientists can excel if they gain leadership in key technologies. One critical technology is the ability to obtain specific cell populations from various parts of the nervous system in sufficient quantity and purity to enable their accurate examination by gene array, proteomics and physiological techniques. The aim is to establish the world's first ....A Cell Sorter Facility for Neuroscience and Related Biotechnology. Neuroscience is entering an era of accelerated discovery in which Queensland neuroscientists can excel if they gain leadership in key technologies. One critical technology is the ability to obtain specific cell populations from various parts of the nervous system in sufficient quantity and purity to enable their accurate examination by gene array, proteomics and physiological techniques. The aim is to establish the world's first cell-sorting facility dedicated to the production of nerve cells suitable for molecular characterization and screening, providing the basis for identifying key molecules regulating brain function, ageing and repair of great importance to the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry.Read moreRead less
Deciphering Signalling Pathways Regulating Iron Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,402.00
Summary
Iron overload and anaemia are two of the most significant health problems affecting humans. Understanding how the body regulates iron levels is key to our understanding of these disorders and to the future development of new therapies. This research is aimed at understanding how a hormone produced in the liver called hepcidin that maintains iron balance is regulated. This research may lead to novel therapies aimed at correcting the iron balance in conditions of iron overload or anaemia.
Endosomal Protein Transport: From Molecular Structures to Biological Function. Intracellular transport of biomolecules through the endosomal organelle is critical for normal cellular processes such as signalling, homoeostasis and development. Defects in this fundamental process and subversion of it by bacterial and viral pathogens also lead to many different human diseases. This project will build on Australia's strong programme of structural and cellular biology research to develop key insights ....Endosomal Protein Transport: From Molecular Structures to Biological Function. Intracellular transport of biomolecules through the endosomal organelle is critical for normal cellular processes such as signalling, homoeostasis and development. Defects in this fundamental process and subversion of it by bacterial and viral pathogens also lead to many different human diseases. This project will build on Australia's strong programme of structural and cellular biology research to develop key insights into endosomal trafficking at the molecular level. Outcomes from this work will place Australia at the forefront of international efforts to understand this essential biological process and will have important implications for future design of pharmaceuticals.Read moreRead less
Understanding the basic biology of cells will allow us to pinpoint key mechanisms and molecules that underpin multiple diseases and are targets for treatments. The broad aims of this research program include the development of new therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases, understanding how proteins are sorted and trafficked inside cells in processes that are essential to immunity and cancer biology, and identifying new intracellular targets to block bacterial invasion and infectious diseases.
Molecular basis of glutamate receptor trafficking in neuronal plasticity . Neurons communicate via synapses, where chemicals (such as glutamate) are released to transmit neuronal signals. This proposal is aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and adaptive plasticity, which are essential for normal brain function. The proposed research will combine biophysical, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to elucidate how the trafficking of glutamate recep ....Molecular basis of glutamate receptor trafficking in neuronal plasticity . Neurons communicate via synapses, where chemicals (such as glutamate) are released to transmit neuronal signals. This proposal is aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and adaptive plasticity, which are essential for normal brain function. The proposed research will combine biophysical, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to elucidate how the trafficking of glutamate receptors is regulated in neurons during plasticity and learning. The outcomes will enhance our understanding of how neural plasticity is generated and maintained, knowledge that is critical for our understanding of the cellular correlates of information, sensory and motor processing, as well as learning, memory and cognition.Read moreRead less
How membrane-sensing proteins regulate synaptic vesicle endocytosis. This project aims to elucidate the molecular basis of how membrane-sensing proteins regulate synaptic vesicle endocytosis in mammalian central neurons. Nerve cells’ ability to transmit cellular information to one another is important for normal brain function. Efficient communication between neurons through sustained neurotransmitter release relies on the continuous supply of synaptic vesicles in presynaptic nerve terminals. Ke ....How membrane-sensing proteins regulate synaptic vesicle endocytosis. This project aims to elucidate the molecular basis of how membrane-sensing proteins regulate synaptic vesicle endocytosis in mammalian central neurons. Nerve cells’ ability to transmit cellular information to one another is important for normal brain function. Efficient communication between neurons through sustained neurotransmitter release relies on the continuous supply of synaptic vesicles in presynaptic nerve terminals. Key to this process are membrane dynamics during synaptic vesicle retrieval, but the precise underlying mechanisms are not well understood. The intended outcome of this project is insights into the molecular mechanisms of synaptic transmission, the fundamental process of brain function, increasing understanding of physiological processes such as muscle movement, vision, hearing, touch, learning and memory.Read moreRead less