New functions for bioactive flavonoids in plants and mammals. We have discovered natural products with biological activity in plants and mammals. These molecules affect plant shape and development and the process of mammalian blood vessel formation. We seek to understand how these molecules work. More understanding is required before one can begin to utilise these molecules for possible beneficial agriculture or human health outcomes. Plant shape influences such things as yield or more drought-r ....New functions for bioactive flavonoids in plants and mammals. We have discovered natural products with biological activity in plants and mammals. These molecules affect plant shape and development and the process of mammalian blood vessel formation. We seek to understand how these molecules work. More understanding is required before one can begin to utilise these molecules for possible beneficial agriculture or human health outcomes. Plant shape influences such things as yield or more drought-resilient root systems. Importantly, we have discovered specific molecules that either promote or inhibit blood vessel formation. A better understanding of how these molecules work could lead to novel treatments for cancer or cardiovascular disease.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989084
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,000.00
Summary
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Live Cell Imaging. The University of Newcastle has invested heavily in its biological and life sciences to create a research nexus focusing on national research priorities in biotechnology and environmental protection. The Live Cell Imaging platform will be utilized by scientists researching such strategically important areas including developmental biology, intracellular signalling cascades, cell cycle dynamics, plant development and microbiology. Moreover ....Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Live Cell Imaging. The University of Newcastle has invested heavily in its biological and life sciences to create a research nexus focusing on national research priorities in biotechnology and environmental protection. The Live Cell Imaging platform will be utilized by scientists researching such strategically important areas including developmental biology, intracellular signalling cascades, cell cycle dynamics, plant development and microbiology. Moreover, this component of the University's research portfolio plays a major role in the postgraduate training of young Australian scientists who will, in turn, fuel future developments in both the life sciences and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668413
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$723,000.00
Summary
The Nanoscale Characterisation Centre WA Analytical Biological Transmission Electron Microscope Facility. A new regional analytical biological TEM (BioTEM) will provide critical support to acclaimed medical and biological groups researching nationally significant age-related health, agricultural and environmental questions. The BioTEM, for example, will allow a unique opportunity to detect metal uptake and accumulation in bone-forming cells. This research will provide insight into metal induce ....The Nanoscale Characterisation Centre WA Analytical Biological Transmission Electron Microscope Facility. A new regional analytical biological TEM (BioTEM) will provide critical support to acclaimed medical and biological groups researching nationally significant age-related health, agricultural and environmental questions. The BioTEM, for example, will allow a unique opportunity to detect metal uptake and accumulation in bone-forming cells. This research will provide insight into metal induced afflictions, such as nasal ulcer, lung cancer, contact dermatitis and hypersensitivity reactions like asthma. The BioTEM will also be used to study how plants take up nutrients and how they use these compounds for growth, development and reproduction. Successes in this research will transfer to the important development of salt-tolerant plant species.Read moreRead less
Disorder as a novel determinant of photosynthetic structure and function: an experimental study. Australia enjoys a world reputation in photosynthesis research, typified by hosting the 2001 International Photosynthesis Congress. It also has a claim to fame for theoretical work in non-equilibrium thermodynamics concerning production of disorder or entropy, yielding new insights into planetary climates. This experimental project investigates the novel relation between entropy/entropy production ....Disorder as a novel determinant of photosynthetic structure and function: an experimental study. Australia enjoys a world reputation in photosynthesis research, typified by hosting the 2001 International Photosynthesis Congress. It also has a claim to fame for theoretical work in non-equilibrium thermodynamics concerning production of disorder or entropy, yielding new insights into planetary climates. This experimental project investigates the novel relation between entropy/entropy production and the structure/function of the solar powerhouse of plants (chloroplasts), and addresses fundamental questions at the interface of biology and physics. The research explores chloroplasts as a manifestation of the all-pervading Second Law of Thermodynamics, advancing Australia's contribution to basic science and helping to train researchers.Read moreRead less
Understanding plant uptake of organic and inorganic nitrogen for optimal fertiliser application in forestry. Nitrogen (N) in soils occurs in both organic and inorganic forms. Plants can take up inorganic N - nitrate and ammonium - but, on average, these account for only 5% of the soluble N in soils. Recent evidence suggests that plants may be able to tap into some of the 95% of N that occurs in organic forms. We will investigate the importance of organic N uptake for two plantation Eucalyptus sp ....Understanding plant uptake of organic and inorganic nitrogen for optimal fertiliser application in forestry. Nitrogen (N) in soils occurs in both organic and inorganic forms. Plants can take up inorganic N - nitrate and ammonium - but, on average, these account for only 5% of the soluble N in soils. Recent evidence suggests that plants may be able to tap into some of the 95% of N that occurs in organic forms. We will investigate the importance of organic N uptake for two plantation Eucalyptus species by tracing the uptake of different N forms by bacteria, fungi and eucalypts. This information will redefine what is meant by 'available N' and will guide the development of a new test for soil N status.Read moreRead less
Regulation of photosynthesis by phosphorus in Australia’s C3 and C4 tropical grasses. Tropical grasses with distinctly different photosynthetic biochemistry (C3 and C4) dominate Australia's vast tropical grasslands. The soils of this ancient landscape are chronically low in the mineral nutrient phosphorus that plays a crucial role in regulating photosynthesis. The project will use an integrated experimental approach and novel techniques such as metabolomics to unravel and define the intricate ....Regulation of photosynthesis by phosphorus in Australia’s C3 and C4 tropical grasses. Tropical grasses with distinctly different photosynthetic biochemistry (C3 and C4) dominate Australia's vast tropical grasslands. The soils of this ancient landscape are chronically low in the mineral nutrient phosphorus that plays a crucial role in regulating photosynthesis. The project will use an integrated experimental approach and novel techniques such as metabolomics to unravel and define the intricate mechanisms by which phosphorus regulates the complex photosynthetic biochemistry of C4 grasses. The new scientific knowledge generated by the project will be used for pasture management models to ensure that successful strategies are implemented to reduce soil loss from our fragile grasslands.Read moreRead less
A novel signalling pathway in plant cells: the phospholipase-microtubule link. Plant development is closely linked to a dynamic network of microtubules and associated proteins. The network responds to a variety of hormonal and environmental signals, although the details of the signalling mechanism are unclear. Recently we made an outstanding discovery - a unique phospholipase D, a key signal-transducing enzyme that links the plasma membrane to the microtubule network. This project aims to def ....A novel signalling pathway in plant cells: the phospholipase-microtubule link. Plant development is closely linked to a dynamic network of microtubules and associated proteins. The network responds to a variety of hormonal and environmental signals, although the details of the signalling mechanism are unclear. Recently we made an outstanding discovery - a unique phospholipase D, a key signal-transducing enzyme that links the plasma membrane to the microtubule network. This project aims to define the molecular details of this novel signal-transduction pathway and establish how external signals modulate developmental events or initiate protective responses such as resistance to drought or pathogen attack.Read moreRead less
Root aquaporins as sensors and regulators of plant water transport. The knowledge we will gain will benefit Australia by allowing better management of plant water use. Because such large quantities of water move through aquaporins in membranes, our understanding of the pores could enable us to manipulate plants to conserve or use water depending on predicted climatic conditions. Molecular aspects of the project will reveal potential novel ways of controlling root water uptake by shoot and root m ....Root aquaporins as sensors and regulators of plant water transport. The knowledge we will gain will benefit Australia by allowing better management of plant water use. Because such large quantities of water move through aquaporins in membranes, our understanding of the pores could enable us to manipulate plants to conserve or use water depending on predicted climatic conditions. Molecular aspects of the project will reveal potential novel ways of controlling root water uptake by shoot and root manipulation. High calibre PhD and Honours students will also be educated to maintain the momentum of international excellence within Australia in the field of plant water relations.Read moreRead less
Root-to-shoot: modeling the salt stress response of a plant vascular system. Salt and drought are the two major abiotic stresses affecting crop plant health, growth and development. We aim to understand salt and water transport in plants and the physiological effects of soil salinity. Using biophysical models, we will quantify the movement of salt through plant organs, tissues and cells, from root to leaf. We aim to answer the question of how salt moves across the different tissues and major org ....Root-to-shoot: modeling the salt stress response of a plant vascular system. Salt and drought are the two major abiotic stresses affecting crop plant health, growth and development. We aim to understand salt and water transport in plants and the physiological effects of soil salinity. Using biophysical models, we will quantify the movement of salt through plant organs, tissues and cells, from root to leaf. We aim to answer the question of how salt moves across the different tissues and major organs, how salt accumulates in root, leaf and shoot cells, and how movement and accumulation is controlled by the diversity of transport mechanisms operating in plants. We aim to quantify tissue tolerance, osmotic tolerance and ionic tolerance and discover new mechanisms by which plants can stave off the effect of salt stress.Read moreRead less
The metabolic footprint of plants. Plant roots "leak" 5-10% of the C fixed in photosynthesis. Surprisingly, we have a limited understanding of which compounds leak from roots.This project will identify the compounds leaking from roots and explore their function in tolerance of biotic and abiotic stress and implications for soil respiration.