Pre-clinical evaluation of snake venom proteins with therapeutic potential. Australia harbors some of the most toxic snakes in the world. Their venoms contain a range of substances that are designed to rapidly immobilize and kill their prey. These include agents that lead to enhanced blood clotting; excess bleeding. We have isolated and characterized a large number of the components involved over the last several years. The aim here is to carry out pre-clinical trials in animal models to test th ....Pre-clinical evaluation of snake venom proteins with therapeutic potential. Australia harbors some of the most toxic snakes in the world. Their venoms contain a range of substances that are designed to rapidly immobilize and kill their prey. These include agents that lead to enhanced blood clotting; excess bleeding. We have isolated and characterized a large number of the components involved over the last several years. The aim here is to carry out pre-clinical trials in animal models to test the efficacy of three proteins as anti-bleeding agents and investigate several other novel components. The ultimate outcome will be the development of novel drugs that will have application in the treatment of human disorders. Read moreRead less
Clean fuels for the future: Scale up and optimisation of microalgal oil production and biodiesel synthesis. The development of renewable carbon-neutral fuels is an urgent challenge facing our society. This project aims to develop an innovative system for biodiesel production from local Australian algae species. If cultivated under the right conditions, microalgae are very efficient near-continuous producers of biodiesel and are likely the only renewable source of fuel that could match our curren ....Clean fuels for the future: Scale up and optimisation of microalgal oil production and biodiesel synthesis. The development of renewable carbon-neutral fuels is an urgent challenge facing our society. This project aims to develop an innovative system for biodiesel production from local Australian algae species. If cultivated under the right conditions, microalgae are very efficient near-continuous producers of biodiesel and are likely the only renewable source of fuel that could match our current and future demand without competing for arable land and food production. Such systems couple the national/community benefits of energy generation, carbon-capture, biodiesel production and the clean-up of wastewater. Successful outcomes from this project will bring this innovative technology closer to commercial reality. Read moreRead less
Second generation biofuels: developing environmentally friendly high-efficiency microalgae for biofuel production. The development of CO2-neutral (biodiesel) and CO2-free (hydrogen) fuels is an urgent challenge facing our society to combat climate change and protect against oil price shocks. Successful outcomes from this project will bring this innovative technology closer to commercial reality. The solar-powered microalgal systems being developed, offer a number of national/community benefits ....Second generation biofuels: developing environmentally friendly high-efficiency microalgae for biofuel production. The development of CO2-neutral (biodiesel) and CO2-free (hydrogen) fuels is an urgent challenge facing our society to combat climate change and protect against oil price shocks. Successful outcomes from this project will bring this innovative technology closer to commercial reality. The solar-powered microalgal systems being developed, offer a number of national/community benefits including
1. A high-efficiency frontier-technology for clean fuel production for the Australian and international market
2. A new process to desalinate water
3. Frontier technology to sequester atmospheric CO2
4. Frontier technologies for wealth generation in drought- or salinity-affected and naturally arid regionsRead moreRead less
Targeted bioengineering and systems biology for solar powered hydrogen production in green algal cells. The development of clean fuels to combat climate change and protect against oil price shocks, is an urgent challenge facing our society. Fuels make up ~67% of the energy market, yet most low-CO2 emissions technologies (e.g. nuclear and clean-coal-technology) target the electricity market. In contrast the Solar Bio-H2 process uses algal photobioreactors to drive solar-powered H2 fuel production ....Targeted bioengineering and systems biology for solar powered hydrogen production in green algal cells. The development of clean fuels to combat climate change and protect against oil price shocks, is an urgent challenge facing our society. Fuels make up ~67% of the energy market, yet most low-CO2 emissions technologies (e.g. nuclear and clean-coal-technology) target the electricity market. In contrast the Solar Bio-H2 process uses algal photobioreactors to drive solar-powered H2 fuel production from water (ultimately sea water, facilitating desalination). This project aims to improve the efficiency of the process towards economical levels. The Solar Bio-H2 process reduces water requirements for biofuel production. Locating bioreactors on non-arable land also eliminates competition between biofuel and food production.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454052
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$733,595.00
Summary
Tandem Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer and Robots for High Throughput Proteomics Analysis. This proposal seeks to establish the capacity to perform high-energy tandem mass spectrometry on a high throughput basis, through purchase and coordinated operation of a Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation - Time of Flight / Time of Flight - Mass Spectrometer and ancillary equipment, to enhance the proteomics expertise, infrastructure and research plans ....Tandem Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer and Robots for High Throughput Proteomics Analysis. This proposal seeks to establish the capacity to perform high-energy tandem mass spectrometry on a high throughput basis, through purchase and coordinated operation of a Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation - Time of Flight / Time of Flight - Mass Spectrometer and ancillary equipment, to enhance the proteomics expertise, infrastructure and research plans of a network of institutions from Queensland and New South Wales and their collaborators. Access to such instrumentation is critical to high level achievement in proteomics, a key platform technology for National Research Priorities relating to Frontier Technologies. No comparable instrument currently exists in Australia.Read moreRead less
The MYB gene as a model for global transcriptional regulation: stopping, starting and looping. This project will study how transcriptional elongation controls the MYB gene, a key regulator of normal and cancerous growth and regulation. There are three major benefits that are likely to flow from the proposed research It will strengthen research in new and important areas of transcriptional regulation, by building research capacity in Australia in the area of gene expression, particularly with res ....The MYB gene as a model for global transcriptional regulation: stopping, starting and looping. This project will study how transcriptional elongation controls the MYB gene, a key regulator of normal and cancerous growth and regulation. There are three major benefits that are likely to flow from the proposed research It will strengthen research in new and important areas of transcriptional regulation, by building research capacity in Australia in the area of gene expression, particularly with respect to transcriptional elongation and long-range regulation. It will highlight a new approach to the therapeutic targeting of MYB in cancer: data generated from this research may enable us to target MYB expression in a range of cancers including breast cancer by inhibiting transcriptional elongation. And it will provide training in advanced molecular biology to postdoctoral scientists and students.Read moreRead less
A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian ....A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian agriculture and protection of our natural resources. The current reliance for disease control on chemicals that damage the environment will be reduced and our research will contribute directly to the provision of cheaper, simpler and more effective methods of control.
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Co-ordinated Action of ATM and DNA-PK in DNA damage recognition. The aim of this project is to investigate the mechanism of repair of double straind breaks in DNA sustained after radiation damage. Specifically we will focus on two proteins ATM (mutated in the genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia) and DNA-PK mutated in scid mice. There two proteins recognize double straind breaks in DNA and signal this damage to the DNA repair machinery of the cell and to cell cycle checkpoints. The emphasis ....Co-ordinated Action of ATM and DNA-PK in DNA damage recognition. The aim of this project is to investigate the mechanism of repair of double straind breaks in DNA sustained after radiation damage. Specifically we will focus on two proteins ATM (mutated in the genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia) and DNA-PK mutated in scid mice. There two proteins recognize double straind breaks in DNA and signal this damage to the DNA repair machinery of the cell and to cell cycle checkpoints. The emphasis here will be in the relationship between the two proteins in co-ordinating the repair of breaks in DNA. This information will be important in understanding mechanisms for maintaining the integrity of the genome.Read moreRead less
To investigate the role of the protein kinase SMG-1 in the stress response. This project is included in the designated priority area of research Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and Ageing Well. It represents a mouse model to assist in the study of human disease. It is the first mouse model for SMG-1, a protein kinase that protects against a variety of different forms of stress. The strength of the model is that it can be combined with other mouse models to interrogate and elucidate the eve ....To investigate the role of the protein kinase SMG-1 in the stress response. This project is included in the designated priority area of research Promoting and Maintaining Good Health and Ageing Well. It represents a mouse model to assist in the study of human disease. It is the first mouse model for SMG-1, a protein kinase that protects against a variety of different forms of stress. The strength of the model is that it can be combined with other mouse models to interrogate and elucidate the events occurring in different pathways for stress. The expectation is that ground-breaking data will be generated with this model providing scientific leadership on the role of this protein. It will also assist in establishing new collaborations.Read moreRead less
Identification of functionally important autophosphorylation site(s) on ataxia telangiectasia and Rad 3 - related (ATR) protein kinase. The integrity of our genetic material must be maintained so that it can be passed on from one generation to the next and also to minimize the risk of cancer and other pathologies in an individual. There are multiple proteins involved in protecting our DNA including several enzymes that detect and signal DNA damage to a series of pathways involved in halting the ....Identification of functionally important autophosphorylation site(s) on ataxia telangiectasia and Rad 3 - related (ATR) protein kinase. The integrity of our genetic material must be maintained so that it can be passed on from one generation to the next and also to minimize the risk of cancer and other pathologies in an individual. There are multiple proteins involved in protecting our DNA including several enzymes that detect and signal DNA damage to a series of pathways involved in halting the passage of cells through the cell cycle so that repair can occur. This project studies the mechanism of action of one of these enzymes which will be of benefit in designing new compounds to fight disease. Read moreRead less