STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND REGULATION OF F-TYPE ATP SYNTHASES
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$544,660.00
Summary
ATP synthase is the molecular machinery that converts energy derived from nutrients or photosynthesis into the universal biological energy carrier ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This is one of the most fundamental processes of life and is conserved from bacteria to plants to humans. Understanding how bacterial and mitochondrial ATP synthases work in molecular detail will have wide-ranging implications for both medicine (in understanding metabolic disorders, controlled cell death and aging) and th ....ATP synthase is the molecular machinery that converts energy derived from nutrients or photosynthesis into the universal biological energy carrier ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This is one of the most fundamental processes of life and is conserved from bacteria to plants to humans. Understanding how bacterial and mitochondrial ATP synthases work in molecular detail will have wide-ranging implications for both medicine (in understanding metabolic disorders, controlled cell death and aging) and the design of new antibacterial agents.Read moreRead less
Investigating The Role Of Mitochondrial Tom40 In Regulated Cell Death And Neurodegeneration.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$972,660.00
Summary
Mitochondria are internal compartments of cells, separated by bounding membranes. They are crucial to the life and death of cells, and to quality of human life and ageing. Diseases of the nervous system can be caused when mitochondria do not function properly. Our aim is to discover why a protein complex called TOM embedded in the bounding membrane is linked to dementia in some people. This will also lead to a better general understanding of the connection between mitochondria and human health.
Structure Based Drug Design Of Inhibitors Of The Cholesterol-dependent Cytolysins And Respiratory Syncytial Virus Fusion
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$377,039.00
Summary
The aim of this work is to determine the three-dimensional atomic structures of proteins that play a role in infection by human pathogens. The structures will provide the basis for developing compounds that interfere with the function of these proteins and hence have potential as drugs to fight infection. The proteins being studied are required for the invasion of human tissues by pathogens; one group are toxins produced in bacterial infections such as pneumonia and meningitis while the other pr ....The aim of this work is to determine the three-dimensional atomic structures of proteins that play a role in infection by human pathogens. The structures will provide the basis for developing compounds that interfere with the function of these proteins and hence have potential as drugs to fight infection. The proteins being studied are required for the invasion of human tissues by pathogens; one group are toxins produced in bacterial infections such as pneumonia and meningitis while the other proteins to be studied are used by viruses to infect human cells.Read moreRead less
Imaging The Machinery Of Bacterial Locomotion At Atomic Resolution
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,732.00
Summary
Our aim is to a) understand and b) sabotage the machinery of locomotion in bacteria. The flagellar motor propels bacteria at 100s of revolutions per second through viscous media making this the most powerful motor known to man. Bacteria can sense their environment and make informed decisions to avoid hazards or find food. Understanding how this machinery works in atomic detail is expected to have implications for both the development of new antibacterials and in the area of nano-medicine.
Structure, Function And Dynamics Of ATP Synthases And Rotary Proton Pumps
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$923,020.00
Summary
ATP synthase is the molecular machinery that converts energy derived from nutrients or photosynthesis into the universal biological fuel source ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This is one of the most fundamental processes of life and is conserved from bacteria to plants to humans. Understanding how ATP synthase and its relatives work in molecular detail is expected to have wide-ranging implications for both medicine (in understanding metabolic disorders) and the design of new antibacterial agents.
Determining The Molecular Basis Of Tumour Cell Multidrug Resistance: Structural And Functional Analysis Of Breast Cancer Resistance Protein
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,396.00
Summary
Around 40% of human tumours develop resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs; a trait most commonly acquired by the increased expression of membrane proteins that remove a broad spectrum of molecules from the cell. This project aims to determine the structure of the human breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), a protein of particular importance in this process. The structure of BCRP will provide a scaffold for the design of drugs aimed at inhibiting chemotherapy drug resistance.
Bacterial antibiotic resistance is mediated through specific biological molecules, so-called multidrug transporter proteins, which effectively export drugs from the cell. This proposal aims to solve the 3D structure of a multidrug resistance protein, NorM, which confers resistance to fluoroquinolone type drugs. Through this, we will provide detail into transport across the membrane of cells, and thus present a molecular understanding of bacterial antibiotic resistance.