Understanding how cells compact and segregate DNA in vertebrates. How a cell compacts and divides its DNA is still a major unanswered question in biology. This project will determine the way in which a cell compacts its DNA nearly ten thousand fold to allow the faithful and accurate segregation to daughter nuclei.
Evolutionary history and impact of adeno-associated viruses in Australia. Recently accrued evidence identifies Australia as an ideal closed-model system in which to elucidate the evolutionary history of a group of non-pathogenic viruses, known as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). This project aims to trace back the evolutionary history of AAVs for tens of millions of years via molecular fossil imprints left behind by ancient viral invasions of Australian marsupial genomes. Concurrently, the poten ....Evolutionary history and impact of adeno-associated viruses in Australia. Recently accrued evidence identifies Australia as an ideal closed-model system in which to elucidate the evolutionary history of a group of non-pathogenic viruses, known as adeno-associated viruses (AAVs). This project aims to trace back the evolutionary history of AAVs for tens of millions of years via molecular fossil imprints left behind by ancient viral invasions of Australian marsupial genomes. Concurrently, the potential impact that these viral invasions had on the evolutionary development of their ancestral hosts will be investigated. This could facilitate previously unattainable insights into both AAV and marsupial evolution, with broader implications relevant to the advancement of the fields of virology and mammalian evolution.Read moreRead less
Investigating a novel factor impacting stem cell development. This project aims to investigate how stem cells are controlled during animal development, by exploring how a specific protein, essential for embryonic development, controls cell fate decisions during the early stages of life. This project expects to generate new knowledge in stem cell biology, embryonic development, and general mechanisms controlling cell fates, using innovative approaches in gene editing and high-throughput imaging. ....Investigating a novel factor impacting stem cell development. This project aims to investigate how stem cells are controlled during animal development, by exploring how a specific protein, essential for embryonic development, controls cell fate decisions during the early stages of life. This project expects to generate new knowledge in stem cell biology, embryonic development, and general mechanisms controlling cell fates, using innovative approaches in gene editing and high-throughput imaging. Expected outcomes of this project include enhanced capacity for fundamental stem cell biology in Australia. This should provide significant benefits, such as training of young Australian researchers in frontier technologies, and new knowledge in fundamental aspects of life, including embryonic development.Read moreRead less
Understanding Mitotic Telomere Deprotection. This project aims to study telomeres, the DNA and protein structures that protect chromosome ends. During cell division, cells under stress intentionally uncap their telomeres. This project expects to generate new knowledge that challenges the conventional notion of telomeres as static elements, showing instead that telomeres can be dynamic signalling hubs. Expected outcomes of this project include an understanding of the genetic, proteomic, and signa ....Understanding Mitotic Telomere Deprotection. This project aims to study telomeres, the DNA and protein structures that protect chromosome ends. During cell division, cells under stress intentionally uncap their telomeres. This project expects to generate new knowledge that challenges the conventional notion of telomeres as static elements, showing instead that telomeres can be dynamic signalling hubs. Expected outcomes of this project include an understanding of the genetic, proteomic, and signalling pathways involved in this novel phenomenon. This should provide significant benefits to our fundamental understanding of biological processes that protect human genomes and provide a valuable dataset for research on telomere biology, DNA repair, and genome stability.Read moreRead less
Controlling cell polarity and asymmetric cell division in space and time. This project seeks to increase our understanding of how cells divide. Asymmetric cell division is a specialised form of cell division essential for the development of all organisms. The two meiotic divisions of the oocyte are extreme examples of asymmetric cell division that allow a reduction in chromosome content while retaining cytoplasmic vestments necessary for development. Successful asymmetric cell division requires ....Controlling cell polarity and asymmetric cell division in space and time. This project seeks to increase our understanding of how cells divide. Asymmetric cell division is a specialised form of cell division essential for the development of all organisms. The two meiotic divisions of the oocyte are extreme examples of asymmetric cell division that allow a reduction in chromosome content while retaining cytoplasmic vestments necessary for development. Successful asymmetric cell division requires the integration of cell cycle events with cell polarity. Understanding how this is achieved would improve our understanding of how to generate a healthy embryo in women, endangered species and in animals of commercial importance.Read moreRead less
Dissecting cell cycle regulation using programmable gene editing technology. This program aims to harness the unprecedented power of CRISPR-Cas13 gene-editing technology to develop high-throughput tools to explore the role of RNA regulation in cell cycle control. This project expects to generate new knowledge about cell division and RNA biology by utilizing this new technology and applying interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this proposal include new research tools capable of broa ....Dissecting cell cycle regulation using programmable gene editing technology. This program aims to harness the unprecedented power of CRISPR-Cas13 gene-editing technology to develop high-throughput tools to explore the role of RNA regulation in cell cycle control. This project expects to generate new knowledge about cell division and RNA biology by utilizing this new technology and applying interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this proposal include new research tools capable of broadly addressing biological questions across multiple disciplines (e.g. from health to food production). This project intends to provide significant benefits, such as enhanced biological knowledge, multidisciplinary training opportunities and will build Australia’s capability in this rapidly expanding field.Read moreRead less
Structural domains of beta-tubulin and their role in microtubule dynamics and transport. This study aims to obtain a fundamental understanding of how the structural domains of the cytoskeletal protein beta-tubulin are involved in microtubule structures during cell division and vesicular transport. Using gene-editing technology and coupling this with cell biological approaches and high-resolution cell imaging will enable detailed analysis of the role of beta-tubulin domains in these important cel ....Structural domains of beta-tubulin and their role in microtubule dynamics and transport. This study aims to obtain a fundamental understanding of how the structural domains of the cytoskeletal protein beta-tubulin are involved in microtubule structures during cell division and vesicular transport. Using gene-editing technology and coupling this with cell biological approaches and high-resolution cell imaging will enable detailed analysis of the role of beta-tubulin domains in these important cellular processes. The outcomes will include fundamental new knowledge in cell biology and lead to the development of unique biological models that can be used to understand disease.Read moreRead less
Understanding telomere privilege in pluripotent stem cells. We recently identified that fundamental mechanisms which protect chromosome ends (i.e. “telomeres”) are not conserved between somatic and embryo-derived stem cells. This discovery is without precedent and challenges the dogmatic expectation that cellular functions promoting genome stability are conserved in stem cells. We term the unexpected protective capacity of pluripotent chromosome ends “telomere privilege”. Here we will uncover th ....Understanding telomere privilege in pluripotent stem cells. We recently identified that fundamental mechanisms which protect chromosome ends (i.e. “telomeres”) are not conserved between somatic and embryo-derived stem cells. This discovery is without precedent and challenges the dogmatic expectation that cellular functions promoting genome stability are conserved in stem cells. We term the unexpected protective capacity of pluripotent chromosome ends “telomere privilege”. Here we will uncover the molecular, genomic, and proteomic regulators or telomere privilege; determine the breath of telomere privilege in stem cell lineages; elucidate the functional significance of telomere privilege; and exploit telomere privilege to study fundamental biology related to telomeres and the DNA damage response.Read moreRead less
Foundations of a good egg: correctly transitioning from mitosis to meiosis. Production of viable offspring is essential to the survival of any species. In all sexually reproducing species, this requires a unique cell type, the germ cell. Germ cells undergo a special type of cell division, called meiosis, so that they can eventually produce gametes (sperm in males and eggs in females). This project aims to discover how germ cells halt the standard form of cell division, called mitosis, and initia ....Foundations of a good egg: correctly transitioning from mitosis to meiosis. Production of viable offspring is essential to the survival of any species. In all sexually reproducing species, this requires a unique cell type, the germ cell. Germ cells undergo a special type of cell division, called meiosis, so that they can eventually produce gametes (sperm in males and eggs in females). This project aims to discover how germ cells halt the standard form of cell division, called mitosis, and initiate meiotic division instead. It is important to understand all the fundamental processes that occur during normal germ cell development so that, in the future, we can use this knowledge to support agricultural advances, rescue endangered species and solve human problems such as infertility and genetic disease.Read moreRead less
New approaches for screening cereal germplasm for enhanced microbial pathogen resistance and desirable grain texture. The trait of grain hardness (texture) is of significance to the Australian infrastructure, as exports of hard wheat contribute over 5 billion dollars per year on average to the national economy and hard wheats are also important for domestic usage. The genes responsible for grain texture also impart resistance to bacterial and fungal pathogens which can cause extensive damage. ....New approaches for screening cereal germplasm for enhanced microbial pathogen resistance and desirable grain texture. The trait of grain hardness (texture) is of significance to the Australian infrastructure, as exports of hard wheat contribute over 5 billion dollars per year on average to the national economy and hard wheats are also important for domestic usage. The genes responsible for grain texture also impart resistance to bacterial and fungal pathogens which can cause extensive damage. However, the Australian gene pool has very limited genetic diversity in grain textures and thus possibly in pathogen resistance. The project will work out the science behind these two traits and identify lines with new variants of textures and pathogen resistances, thus greatly benefiting the national infrastructure and local primary industries.Read moreRead less