The basis of recognition and disposal of dysfunctional proteins by clusterin. When proteins become damaged they can precipitate. A blood protein called clusterin prevents precipitation of damaged proteins. Clusterin does this by forming complexes with the damaged proteins. Clusterin is the first blood protein known to do this. We will discover which parts of clusterin are responsible for this activity. We will also discover whether cells can take up and dispose of the complexes of clusterin and ....The basis of recognition and disposal of dysfunctional proteins by clusterin. When proteins become damaged they can precipitate. A blood protein called clusterin prevents precipitation of damaged proteins. Clusterin does this by forming complexes with the damaged proteins. Clusterin is the first blood protein known to do this. We will discover which parts of clusterin are responsible for this activity. We will also discover whether cells can take up and dispose of the complexes of clusterin and damaged proteins. This work is important because some diseases (eg, Alzheimers disease) involve the toxic effects of abnormal protein precipitation. Understanding how clusterin works may help in developing better treatments for these diseases.Read moreRead less
Development of Pyrrolopyrimidines as Inhibitors of ATP-Binding Proteins. This project seeks to generate analogues of natural products that have been found to be active against cancer cells and tropical parasites. The new materials produced by this project will aid in the study of biochemical processes involved in diseases such as cancer and lymphatic filariasis, thus leading the way to development of these compounds as potential treatments for such diseases.
Electrophysiological and Anatomical Characterization of the Coronary Sinus Musculature and its Relationship to the Atria. This series of experiments will characterise the normal coronary sinus musculature and its connectivity to the atria of the heart and establish their electrical relationships. The underlying characteristics of the muscular connections will also be evaluated with a view to possible future manipulations of the system. Understanding normal heart impulse propagation is paramount ....Electrophysiological and Anatomical Characterization of the Coronary Sinus Musculature and its Relationship to the Atria. This series of experiments will characterise the normal coronary sinus musculature and its connectivity to the atria of the heart and establish their electrical relationships. The underlying characteristics of the muscular connections will also be evaluated with a view to possible future manipulations of the system. Understanding normal heart impulse propagation is paramount before we can understand and develop treatments for dealing with heart problems. This information will facilitate the development of techniques to treat and prevent heart rhythm disorders that are a common cause of morbidity in the community.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882289
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$520,000.00
Summary
New generation mass spectrometers for characterisation of molecular shape and size. The ion mobility mass spectrometer (IMMS at UOW) will be the first of its kind in Australia, and together with the ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS at ANU) will continue the tradition of this partnership in providing researchers with cutting-edge instrumentation for nationally and internationally important projects including: (i) fundamental understanding of the ways in which biomolecules recognize one another, ( ....New generation mass spectrometers for characterisation of molecular shape and size. The ion mobility mass spectrometer (IMMS at UOW) will be the first of its kind in Australia, and together with the ion trap mass spectrometer (ITMS at ANU) will continue the tradition of this partnership in providing researchers with cutting-edge instrumentation for nationally and internationally important projects including: (i) fundamental understanding of the ways in which biomolecules recognize one another, (ii) investigating the structure(s) of lipids (fats) in cardiovascular disease and cataract, (iii) developing anticancer drugs, and (iv) development of new materials.Read moreRead less
Novel Mass Spectrometric Approaches to the Study of Protein-Protein Interactions. Protein-protein interactions mediate all fundamental cellular processes, yet the structural complexity of protein assemblies mean they are often difficult to characterise using traditional analytical methods. This project will develop and demonstrate novel mass spectrometric approaches towards a molecular level description of the structure and interactions of biological protein complexes, which in turn may underpi ....Novel Mass Spectrometric Approaches to the Study of Protein-Protein Interactions. Protein-protein interactions mediate all fundamental cellular processes, yet the structural complexity of protein assemblies mean they are often difficult to characterise using traditional analytical methods. This project will develop and demonstrate novel mass spectrometric approaches towards a molecular level description of the structure and interactions of biological protein complexes, which in turn may underpin the rational design of drugs for the treatment of a range of human health conditions. This project will also provide training of young researchers to the highest international standards in mass spectrometry and protein science, for benefit to Australian industry and research.Read moreRead less
TeraHertz Cell Cluster Imaging. With this program, Australia will benefit from the interaction between physics, engineering, biology and medicine to develop a new TeraHertz imaging system. The project will identify the factors that contribute to TeraHertz contrast in soft tissue cell cultures, thereby developing a non-invasive imaging system to show contrast between diseased and healthy cells. This is a fundamental step towards a system for diagnosing disease states of skin cells, for example, t ....TeraHertz Cell Cluster Imaging. With this program, Australia will benefit from the interaction between physics, engineering, biology and medicine to develop a new TeraHertz imaging system. The project will identify the factors that contribute to TeraHertz contrast in soft tissue cell cultures, thereby developing a non-invasive imaging system to show contrast between diseased and healthy cells. This is a fundamental step towards a system for diagnosing disease states of skin cells, for example, the early detection of melanoma. Ultimately, Australia will benefit from a new technology, and new diagnostic biomedical techniques, for rapid, non-invasive and reliable skin cancer diagnosis.Read moreRead less
ARC/NHMRC Research Network for Parasitology. The ARC Network for Parasitology will focus and coordinate Australia's world class fundamental, strategic and applied parasitology research. This targeted approach will raise Australia's standing in the field, assist in the community's understanding of parasitology and biosecurity and maintain and improve Australia's capacity for keeping its stock, crops, wildlife and people disease-free. On an international scale, the Network will work with other cou ....ARC/NHMRC Research Network for Parasitology. The ARC Network for Parasitology will focus and coordinate Australia's world class fundamental, strategic and applied parasitology research. This targeted approach will raise Australia's standing in the field, assist in the community's understanding of parasitology and biosecurity and maintain and improve Australia's capacity for keeping its stock, crops, wildlife and people disease-free. On an international scale, the Network will work with other countries to develop new technologies for the detection and eradication of parasites. This emphasis will not only protect Australia's borders but will assist our near neighbours and lead to the development of technologies with an economic benefit to Australia.
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Breaking The Wavelength Barrier: Near-Field T-ray Imaging. Australia will benefit from the interaction between engineering, physics, and biology to develop a new T-ray imaging system that will ultimately be able to probe microstructures, biological single cells or even neurons. The project will exploit a powerful new electrooptical technique for obtaining chemical 'fingerprints' at the cellular level. This breakthrough will be a fundamental step towards a system for probing disease states of sin ....Breaking The Wavelength Barrier: Near-Field T-ray Imaging. Australia will benefit from the interaction between engineering, physics, and biology to develop a new T-ray imaging system that will ultimately be able to probe microstructures, biological single cells or even neurons. The project will exploit a powerful new electrooptical technique for obtaining chemical 'fingerprints' at the cellular level. This breakthrough will be a fundamental step towards a system for probing disease states of single cells and will open up new lines of scientific enquiry. Ultimately, Australia will benefit from a new technology and new diagnostic biomedical techniques. This is potentially an enabling technology for future customised medicine, where rapid biochip sensing becomes foreseeable.Read moreRead less
Towards a miniaturised on-chip terahertz biosensing system. Terahertz (or T-ray) radiation is highly sensitive to minute changes in the molecular structure of many substances. Furthermore most packing materials are transparent to this new form of radiation. This implies enormous potential for T-rays in a range of applications from quality control via non-invasive contact-less chemical fingerprinting through to safety and security applications. A detailed study of the molecular vibrations that gi ....Towards a miniaturised on-chip terahertz biosensing system. Terahertz (or T-ray) radiation is highly sensitive to minute changes in the molecular structure of many substances. Furthermore most packing materials are transparent to this new form of radiation. This implies enormous potential for T-rays in a range of applications from quality control via non-invasive contact-less chemical fingerprinting through to safety and security applications. A detailed study of the molecular vibrations that give rise to these fingerprints will help chemists and biologists to learn more about the underlying molecular binding forces, impacting on wide applications for safe non-invasive sensing in the medical, security, chemical and food industries.Read moreRead less
Negative ion mass spectrometry: fundamental studies and applied applications. We seek to:
(i) establish negative ion mass spectrometry as an analytical tool for the sequencing of proteins and to probe the structures of active peptide Ca2+ calmodulin complexes which, for example, inhibit the formation of NO from nitric oxide synthases. Controlling the concentration of nitric oxide may assist with the treatment of inflammatory and cardiac diseases, stroke and diseases of the central nervous syst ....Negative ion mass spectrometry: fundamental studies and applied applications. We seek to:
(i) establish negative ion mass spectrometry as an analytical tool for the sequencing of proteins and to probe the structures of active peptide Ca2+ calmodulin complexes which, for example, inhibit the formation of NO from nitric oxide synthases. Controlling the concentration of nitric oxide may assist with the treatment of inflammatory and cardiac diseases, stroke and diseases of the central nervous system.
(ii) to study the possibility of the formation of biological molecules of life in interstellar regions
(iii) to train graduate students to international standards in the chemistry of proteomics.Read moreRead less