Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100110
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
A Video-Rate Nanoscopy Facility for Super-Resolution Imaging. A video-rate nanoscopy facility for super-resolution imaging: Super-Resolution Microscopy (SRM) is a major frontier technology and is revolutionising our understanding of the structure and dynamics of cellular organisation. A video-rate SRM imaging facility will be established and is expected to bridge the gap between the functional dynamics and structure of living systems at the level of the single molecule. In leading international ....A Video-Rate Nanoscopy Facility for Super-Resolution Imaging. A video-rate nanoscopy facility for super-resolution imaging: Super-Resolution Microscopy (SRM) is a major frontier technology and is revolutionising our understanding of the structure and dynamics of cellular organisation. A video-rate SRM imaging facility will be established and is expected to bridge the gap between the functional dynamics and structure of living systems at the level of the single molecule. In leading international centres, breakthroughs are being made in understanding molecular mechanisms in cancer, infectious diseases and neuropathologies. Beyond purely biomedical considerations, SRM is redefining our knowledge of cellular architecture and will impact on our understanding of the fundamental biology of all plants, animals and micro organisms.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100132
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$860,000.00
Summary
3D Cryo-FIBSEM Imaging Facility for Biological and Material Sciences. 3D Cryo-FIBSEM imaging facility for biological and material sciences: The Cryo-Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (Cryo-FIBSEM) will reveal isometric 3D information on the structure and composition of specimens at the nanometre scale. The cryo-FIBSEM will be the first instrument of this type in Australia able to operate in a low temperature cryogenic mode. This will enable the imaging of vitrified biological materia ....3D Cryo-FIBSEM Imaging Facility for Biological and Material Sciences. 3D Cryo-FIBSEM imaging facility for biological and material sciences: The Cryo-Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope (Cryo-FIBSEM) will reveal isometric 3D information on the structure and composition of specimens at the nanometre scale. The cryo-FIBSEM will be the first instrument of this type in Australia able to operate in a low temperature cryogenic mode. This will enable the imaging of vitrified biological materials in a near native state and of non-biological material to allow imaging of, for example, fluids, emulsions, gels and interfaces between biological and non-biological materials. Synergistic workflows incorporating unique high-end microscopes will enable the study of complex biological structures in their native context and atomic scale imaging of beam sensitive materials.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100701
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$354,224.00
Summary
Towards real-time image processing in single-particle electron microscopy. This project aims to research real-time image processing of single-particle electron microscopy (SPEM) images and to study structural dynamics in both biology and materials science. SPEM is an essential tool to study the structure and dynamics of nanoscale molecules. However, the theoretical frameworks underpinning SPEM are in their early stages of development. This research is expected to enable the study of colloidal na ....Towards real-time image processing in single-particle electron microscopy. This project aims to research real-time image processing of single-particle electron microscopy (SPEM) images and to study structural dynamics in both biology and materials science. SPEM is an essential tool to study the structure and dynamics of nanoscale molecules. However, the theoretical frameworks underpinning SPEM are in their early stages of development. This research is expected to enable the study of colloidal nanoparticle structures in solution and reveal the protein rearrangements that underlie secretion of bacterial proteins in two different systems a number of different bacterial species require for viability and infection.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560712
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$630,837.00
Summary
State-of-the-art biophysical tools for the characterisation of molecular interactions. In the current era of 'the genome' there is more demand than ever before for the characterisation of the gene products - the oligonucleotides and proteins that carry out the important functions in the cell. The current proposal is to acquire a suite of instrumentation to characterise the kinetics, thermodynamics and overall affinities of interactions between biological macromolecules and their physiological bi ....State-of-the-art biophysical tools for the characterisation of molecular interactions. In the current era of 'the genome' there is more demand than ever before for the characterisation of the gene products - the oligonucleotides and proteins that carry out the important functions in the cell. The current proposal is to acquire a suite of instrumentation to characterise the kinetics, thermodynamics and overall affinities of interactions between biological macromolecules and their physiological binding partners or with novel ligands. This will reveal the role of the macromolecules of interest in the cell, and potentially lead to the discovery of drug molecules which could interfere with molecular interactions underlying disease.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0561169
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$188,000.00
Summary
Facility for multidimensional fractionation of complex biological mixtures. Acquisition of multidimensional fractionation equipment will allow researchers to separate proteins from complex mixtures, and to compare whole protein profiles of multiple samples. This will permit correlation of specific protein changes associated with infection or disease, a major focus of post-genomic programs of research. The equipment will also provide identification of the key differentiating proteins using mini ....Facility for multidimensional fractionation of complex biological mixtures. Acquisition of multidimensional fractionation equipment will allow researchers to separate proteins from complex mixtures, and to compare whole protein profiles of multiple samples. This will permit correlation of specific protein changes associated with infection or disease, a major focus of post-genomic programs of research. The equipment will also provide identification of the key differentiating proteins using minimal material. Numerous world-class projects and researchers will be able to move more rapidly and reliably from crude cell extracts to identifiable markers, and maintain their competitive positions the recognition of key targets in drug design, disease diagnosis and vaccine development.Read moreRead less
Protein-mRNA interactions and their role in post-transcriptional regulation. The research outcomes will be of fundamental importance in the field of gene regulation, and as such will result in publications in high-profile international journals and continue to contribute to Australia's outstanding international reputation in biological research. Students and research associates that have the opportunity to work on this project will be trained in the use of state-of-the art technologies in bioche ....Protein-mRNA interactions and their role in post-transcriptional regulation. The research outcomes will be of fundamental importance in the field of gene regulation, and as such will result in publications in high-profile international journals and continue to contribute to Australia's outstanding international reputation in biological research. Students and research associates that have the opportunity to work on this project will be trained in the use of state-of-the art technologies in biochemistry, scientific rigour and presentation skills and thus contribute to the quality of our national workforce. Furthermore, applications that arise from this work will contribute to Australia's intellectual property and future development of biotechnological industry.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100016
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$850,000.00
Summary
A collaborative electron microscopy network for structural biology. This project aims to establish a high-throughput pipeline to determine the near-atomic-resolution structure of proteins by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Over the past five years, cryo-EM has improved the study of biological macromolecules at near-atomic resolution. This project will use two automated electron microscopes and a Titan Krios microscope to build a world-competitive integrated cryo-EM network for structural bio ....A collaborative electron microscopy network for structural biology. This project aims to establish a high-throughput pipeline to determine the near-atomic-resolution structure of proteins by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Over the past five years, cryo-EM has improved the study of biological macromolecules at near-atomic resolution. This project will use two automated electron microscopes and a Titan Krios microscope to build a world-competitive integrated cryo-EM network for structural biology. This research is expected to increase the understanding of molecular events that are central for life.Read moreRead less
Molecular basis for control of DNA transcription of housekeeping genes. This project aims to understand how 90 per cent of all eukaryotic genes are regulated. The development of a multicellular organism needs thousands of different messenger RNAs, at exactly the right time, in the right set of cells and in the right amount, creating a need for stringent regulation of gene expression. The data generated by the project will show how a massive protein complex of ~50 individual gene products—the gen ....Molecular basis for control of DNA transcription of housekeeping genes. This project aims to understand how 90 per cent of all eukaryotic genes are regulated. The development of a multicellular organism needs thousands of different messenger RNAs, at exactly the right time, in the right set of cells and in the right amount, creating a need for stringent regulation of gene expression. The data generated by the project will show how a massive protein complex of ~50 individual gene products—the general transcription machinery—identifies a gene’s start site, recruits RNA polymerase II and prepares it for transcription of the genetic code. The project is expected to reveal the molecular basis of a process that is as important for flowering in plants as it is for embryonic development in metazoans.Read moreRead less
Undermining fungal defences by targeting their functional amyloid armour. This project will determine how a protective protein coating forms on the surface of fungal spores and infectious structures. This coating is comprised of amyloid protein fibrils and is used by fungi to improve efficiency of infection and to avoid detection by the host plant or animal. We have discovered novel small molecules that prevent the fibrils from forming. This project will use these molecules to reveal the details ....Undermining fungal defences by targeting their functional amyloid armour. This project will determine how a protective protein coating forms on the surface of fungal spores and infectious structures. This coating is comprised of amyloid protein fibrils and is used by fungi to improve efficiency of infection and to avoid detection by the host plant or animal. We have discovered novel small molecules that prevent the fibrils from forming. This project will use these molecules to reveal the details of the fibril assembly mechanism and find the best way to undermine this fungal defence system. This knowledge will enable the development of potent small molecule inhibitors to treat fungal infections that blight crops and harm animals, and the production of new layered biomaterials for nanotechnology applications.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100304
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$416,092.00
Summary
Understanding intramolecular regulation of ubiquitin enzymes. This project aims to combine structural, biophysical and functional studies to characterise how ubiquitin enzymes are regulated. Ubiquitination controls essential cellular pathways in all eukaryotes and this project expects to generate new knowledge regarding the vital regulation of this process. This project expects to develop broadly applicable techniques for investigating protein conformation and self-association as a means of cont ....Understanding intramolecular regulation of ubiquitin enzymes. This project aims to combine structural, biophysical and functional studies to characterise how ubiquitin enzymes are regulated. Ubiquitination controls essential cellular pathways in all eukaryotes and this project expects to generate new knowledge regarding the vital regulation of this process. This project expects to develop broadly applicable techniques for investigating protein conformation and self-association as a means of controlling catalytic activity. The project should significantly increase understanding of several modes of regulation of ubiquitin ligase catalytic activity, and how this controls a myriad of cellular processes. The project will lay the foundation for applied research anti-viral compounds, plant anti-fungals and cancer therapies.Read moreRead less