Membrane proteins in innate immunity. The application of smarter and faster methods for understanding membrane proteins, targets of most drugs, is vital to a knowledge-based economy and a healthy society. The long-term benefits will include fundamental new knowledge on immunity, and implementation of new approaches that streamline costs and efforts of challenging, high-impact research.
Structure and function of human zinc transporter membrane proteins. The aim of this project is to create fundamental new knowledge on how important mammalian membrane proteins operate. Membrane proteins are key drug targets and are significantly under-represented in structural databases. The project plans to combine innovative membrane protein screening technology with gene expression, structural biology, biophysics and cell biology. The project outcomes may elucidate specific molecular mechanis ....Structure and function of human zinc transporter membrane proteins. The aim of this project is to create fundamental new knowledge on how important mammalian membrane proteins operate. Membrane proteins are key drug targets and are significantly under-represented in structural databases. The project plans to combine innovative membrane protein screening technology with gene expression, structural biology, biophysics and cell biology. The project outcomes may elucidate specific molecular mechanisms underpinning the essential biological process of zinc homeostasis.Read moreRead less
Moonlighting from sugar to metal. This project intends to use integrated genetics, biochemistry and omics to decipher the roles of the highly conserved OST3 proteins, which have been implicated in the disparate functions of regulating protein glycosylation and transporting magnesium. The project plans to detail the role of OST3 proteins in regulating mammalian glycosylation and reconstruct the vertebrate co-evolutionary trajectory of OST3 protein–substrate interactions. It also aims to identify ....Moonlighting from sugar to metal. This project intends to use integrated genetics, biochemistry and omics to decipher the roles of the highly conserved OST3 proteins, which have been implicated in the disparate functions of regulating protein glycosylation and transporting magnesium. The project plans to detail the role of OST3 proteins in regulating mammalian glycosylation and reconstruct the vertebrate co-evolutionary trajectory of OST3 protein–substrate interactions. It also aims to identify and characterise the regulation, mechanisms and metabolic consequences of OST3 protein-mediated magnesium transport. These outcomes may provide insights into eukaryotic biology, and allow advances in engineered systems for glycoprotein production and modulating cellular metabolism with potential research and therapeutic utility.Read moreRead less
Machine learning for organelle selection & feature detection in live cells. This project aims to addresses a roadblock in cell imaging and analysis by creating new mathematical and machine learning techniques for large datasets. Using advanced imaging and these analytic tools this project aims to define newly-discovered macropinosomes - cell structures with seminal roles in immunobiology. Outcomes will include a suite of computational tools that can be applied across bioscience to fully reveal a ....Machine learning for organelle selection & feature detection in live cells. This project aims to addresses a roadblock in cell imaging and analysis by creating new mathematical and machine learning techniques for large datasets. Using advanced imaging and these analytic tools this project aims to define newly-discovered macropinosomes - cell structures with seminal roles in immunobiology. Outcomes will include a suite of computational tools that can be applied across bioscience to fully reveal and quantify information contained within microscopic imaging and high impact knowledge for immunity. Innovative approaches will benefit the nation by capacity building in interdisciplinary technology.Read moreRead less
Investigating the molecular basis of T-cell receptor cross-reactivity. This project will explore the basis of unexpected immune reactions whereby the immune system mistakes one molecular structure for another, a phenomenon known as cross-reactivity. This project will examine how often this is due to molecular mimicry, potentially explaining why immune T cells sometimes react inappropriately to different agents.