Mechanosensitive properties and modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors by lipid environment. This project will provide new information about the molecular determinants which influence NMDA receptor channel gating that will significantly advance our understanding of a link between NMDA receptor function and many neurodegenerative diseases as well as pain and learning and memory. The outcomes of this project may lead to the discovery of novel lipid-based biomaterials for application i ....Mechanosensitive properties and modulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors by lipid environment. This project will provide new information about the molecular determinants which influence NMDA receptor channel gating that will significantly advance our understanding of a link between NMDA receptor function and many neurodegenerative diseases as well as pain and learning and memory. The outcomes of this project may lead to the discovery of novel lipid-based biomaterials for application in medicine and the drug industry. This research is highly significant in relation to human health. The biological and nutritional aspects of polyunsaturated lipids and dietary fish oils have long been recognized. Thus this project will provide further knowledge that could benefit the health of the nation with consequent reduced health care costs.Read moreRead less
Membrane attack complex/perforin-like proteins in developmental and neurobiology. This project will aim to use the fruit fly as a model system to understand how members of the perforin-like superfamily, a family of proteins more usually associated with mammalian immunity, function in embryonic and neural development. These data will eventually provide central insight into human diseases such as cancer and autism spectrum disorder.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101648
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$363,000.00
Summary
A novel mechanism for the control of growth factor activity. Growth factors are secreted signalling molecules that govern fundamental biological processes such as cell growth, proliferation and death. The mechanism for growth factor control by a Membrane Attack Complex/Perforin-like (MACPF) protein is highly novel as MACPF proteins typically function to kill pathogens during the vertebrate immune response. This project aims to reveal how the MACPF protein Torso-like controls highly localised gro ....A novel mechanism for the control of growth factor activity. Growth factors are secreted signalling molecules that govern fundamental biological processes such as cell growth, proliferation and death. The mechanism for growth factor control by a Membrane Attack Complex/Perforin-like (MACPF) protein is highly novel as MACPF proteins typically function to kill pathogens during the vertebrate immune response. This project aims to reveal how the MACPF protein Torso-like controls highly localised growth factor signalling, using the sophisticated genetic and advanced imaging methods possible in the fruit fly Drosophila. This project aims to understand growth factor control as its deregulation leads to serious developmental disorders and diseases.Read moreRead less
Function and evolution of insect odorant receptors. This project aims to shed light on how insect odorant receptors function by using comparative genomic studies between the genetic model insect Drosophila melanogaster and a pest species, the Australian sheep blowfly. This project expects to generate knowledge of how specific chemicals activate specific receptors in order to excite sensory neurons and drive behaviour, which is not well understood. Expected outcomes include increased understandin ....Function and evolution of insect odorant receptors. This project aims to shed light on how insect odorant receptors function by using comparative genomic studies between the genetic model insect Drosophila melanogaster and a pest species, the Australian sheep blowfly. This project expects to generate knowledge of how specific chemicals activate specific receptors in order to excite sensory neurons and drive behaviour, which is not well understood. Expected outcomes include increased understanding of olfaction in insects, increased national and international collaboration, and outstanding graduate student training. This research will be of significant future benefit in deriving methods to modify the behaviour of insects of agricultural or medical importance, for example the sheep blowfly. Read moreRead less
A novel regulator of growth signalling in Drosophila. This project aims to increase understanding of how growth is regulated by growth factor hormones. In animals, growth is controlled by signalling pathways that are activated by secreted peptide hormones. A new regulator of growth in the fruitfly Drosophila, the membrane attack complex/perforin-like (MACPF) protein Torso-like, has been identified. The project aims to unravel how Torso-like functions to regulate growth, thus throwing light on th ....A novel regulator of growth signalling in Drosophila. This project aims to increase understanding of how growth is regulated by growth factor hormones. In animals, growth is controlled by signalling pathways that are activated by secreted peptide hormones. A new regulator of growth in the fruitfly Drosophila, the membrane attack complex/perforin-like (MACPF) protein Torso-like, has been identified. The project aims to unravel how Torso-like functions to regulate growth, thus throwing light on the role this protein family may play in all animals. The findings are expected to provide key insights into the modification of growth factor activity, which is often dysregulated in human cancers and growth disorders, and may enable the design of new strategies for interfering with insect development for pest control.Read moreRead less
The evolution of Membrane Attack Complex / Perforin-like proteins in development and immunity. Membrane Attack Complex/Perforin-like (MACPF) proteins commonly play key roles in vertebrate immunity, however some family members play critical but poorly understood developmental roles. It has been shown that the sole Drosophila MACPF protein, Torsolike, plays both developmental and immune roles. Here the aim to unravel how Torsolike functions in these dual roles by using a novel genetic screening ap ....The evolution of Membrane Attack Complex / Perforin-like proteins in development and immunity. Membrane Attack Complex/Perforin-like (MACPF) proteins commonly play key roles in vertebrate immunity, however some family members play critical but poorly understood developmental roles. It has been shown that the sole Drosophila MACPF protein, Torsolike, plays both developmental and immune roles. Here the aim to unravel how Torsolike functions in these dual roles by using a novel genetic screening approach to identify genes needed for its function. The project also uses comparative studies to probe alternative functions of Torsolike in a second insect, the honeybee. This data will be pivotal for understanding how members of this family have evolved into proteins that are separately involved in immune defense and in development in higher vertebrates.Read moreRead less
The evolutionary transition from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism. This project aims to find out how life on Earth survived the revolutionary changes when cyanobacteria first released oxygen into the atmosphere. These events led to a transition from anoxic (oxygen-free) to oxic (oxygen-rich) conditions. A comparative genomic view across a series of photosynthetic organisms will be performed at the molecular level with ecological interpretation. Understanding of what metabolic changes occurred in ....The evolutionary transition from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism. This project aims to find out how life on Earth survived the revolutionary changes when cyanobacteria first released oxygen into the atmosphere. These events led to a transition from anoxic (oxygen-free) to oxic (oxygen-rich) conditions. A comparative genomic view across a series of photosynthetic organisms will be performed at the molecular level with ecological interpretation. Understanding of what metabolic changes occurred in response to the shifts in the environment will have wide implications for predicting the evolutionary events that are still occurring today, such as rapidly changing climatic conditions. This fundamental research will enhance Australia's profile in this field.Read moreRead less
Improved insect pest control through understanding mechanisms of insecticide action. Receptors in the nervous system relay signals required for nerve function. Insecticides targeting these receptors provide insect pest control. Better insecticides could be designed if the proteins involved in receptor assembly function were known. In identifying these proteins this project will improve options for safe and effective pest control.