Myofibroblast differentiation: from haemopoietic cells to smooth muscle. Until very recently the ability of adult cells with specific differentiated functions to re-differentiate for another function was thought to be extremely limited. However we have shown that cells ultimately derived from the bone marrow can differentiate into fibroblasts, then into myofibroblasts and then into smooth muscle cells. This project will build on these unique findings and determine the molecular mechanisms cont ....Myofibroblast differentiation: from haemopoietic cells to smooth muscle. Until very recently the ability of adult cells with specific differentiated functions to re-differentiate for another function was thought to be extremely limited. However we have shown that cells ultimately derived from the bone marrow can differentiate into fibroblasts, then into myofibroblasts and then into smooth muscle cells. This project will build on these unique findings and determine the molecular mechanisms controlling this process. We hypothesise that the local environment of a cell is critical and will involve a combination of particular extracellular matrix and growth factors as well as mechanical tension and the presence of other cell types.Read moreRead less
Combined genetic and cellular analysis of melanisation to study variation in human pigmentation. This investigation examines variations in the genes that are important determinants of human skin pigmentation and are likely to be associated with skin cancer risk. Our research program will form the basis of future diagnostics based on major genes that determine a persons skin type. Current skin cancer prevention strategies rely predominantly on broad spectrum campaigns that are aimed at increasi ....Combined genetic and cellular analysis of melanisation to study variation in human pigmentation. This investigation examines variations in the genes that are important determinants of human skin pigmentation and are likely to be associated with skin cancer risk. Our research program will form the basis of future diagnostics based on major genes that determine a persons skin type. Current skin cancer prevention strategies rely predominantly on broad spectrum campaigns that are aimed at increasing the general community awareness of the damaging effects of UV radiation. A better understanding of the genetic basis of UV-sensitive skin types will greatly enhance the targeting of such skin cancer-prevention campaigns, provide an understanding of changes that occur in skin pathology, and the mechanisms of sun induced tanning.Read moreRead less
Parallel genetic and cellular analysis of melanogensis: A new paradigm to study variation in pigmentation. This is the first attempt to characterise the differences in human pigmentation using a combined genetic and cellular analysis of melanogenesis. We have the ability to culture the pigmenting cells of the human epidermis and hair follicles called melanocytes from individuals of defined genotype. This will allow us to correlate mutations in melanosomal proteins with functional defects withi ....Parallel genetic and cellular analysis of melanogensis: A new paradigm to study variation in pigmentation. This is the first attempt to characterise the differences in human pigmentation using a combined genetic and cellular analysis of melanogenesis. We have the ability to culture the pigmenting cells of the human epidermis and hair follicles called melanocytes from individuals of defined genotype. This will allow us to correlate mutations in melanosomal proteins with functional defects within the cells in culture using live cell imaging, electron microscopy and biochemical analysis. This will provide a molecular basis to explain the pigmentary characteristics of individuals allowing prediction and diagnosis of their photosensitivity with important implications for skin cancer risk.Read moreRead less
Control of actin assembly by cell-cell adhesion: molecular effectors and higher order function. Functional cooperation between the actin cytoskeleton and cadherin cell-cell adhesion molecules plays critical roles during development and morphogenesis. This proposal builds on my lab's recent discovery that E-cadherin interacts with and regulates the Arp2/3 actin nucleator complex, a central determinant of actin assembly in cells. We will explore key implications of this finding, concentrating on d ....Control of actin assembly by cell-cell adhesion: molecular effectors and higher order function. Functional cooperation between the actin cytoskeleton and cadherin cell-cell adhesion molecules plays critical roles during development and morphogenesis. This proposal builds on my lab's recent discovery that E-cadherin interacts with and regulates the Arp2/3 actin nucleator complex, a central determinant of actin assembly in cells. We will explore key implications of this finding, concentrating on defining the molecular mechanisms that regulate Arp2/3 and actin assembly in cadherin-based adhesion. Our work combines molecular characterization of regulatory mechanisms and proteomic searches for new regulators, with tests of the higher-order function of this novel process in cell adhesion and recognition.Read moreRead less
Balancing cadherin-actin cooperation: the key regulatory role of Ena/VASP proteins. This project analyses a fundamental mechanism of how cells work together in tissues. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of how cells work will provide important basic scientific information to enrich the scientific expertise in Australia and its part in the international community, generate insights relevant for understanding human disease and physical degeneration, and support the training of young scienti ....Balancing cadherin-actin cooperation: the key regulatory role of Ena/VASP proteins. This project analyses a fundamental mechanism of how cells work together in tissues. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of how cells work will provide important basic scientific information to enrich the scientific expertise in Australia and its part in the international community, generate insights relevant for understanding human disease and physical degeneration, and support the training of young scientists in Australia.Read moreRead less
CX3C chemokine signalling in the olfactory epithelium and its role in the self regeneration of the olfactory system. The current proposal will explore new venues in adult neural stem cell research and contribute to the further development of molecular biology and neuroscience research in Western Australia and Australia. The use of neural stem cells holds therapeutic promise for the treatment of a wide variety of neurological conditions, including neurotrauma and stroke. The proposed research wil ....CX3C chemokine signalling in the olfactory epithelium and its role in the self regeneration of the olfactory system. The current proposal will explore new venues in adult neural stem cell research and contribute to the further development of molecular biology and neuroscience research in Western Australia and Australia. The use of neural stem cells holds therapeutic promise for the treatment of a wide variety of neurological conditions, including neurotrauma and stroke. The proposed research will provide new data on the fundamental cellular and molecular events that are required to trigger the birth, differentiation and conditions for growth of new neurons in the adult nervous system. The generation of such insights will be critical for any translational research.
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Advanced optical tweezers technologies for biophysical measurements. While much is understood about the fundamental unit of life, the living cell, such as their behaviour and their biochemistry and genetics, the interface between these two is only poorly known. We will use optical tweezers, which can trap and move microscopic objects without physical contact, to measure forces on the molecular and cellular scale to study the mechanical properties of cells and biomolecules, including molecular mo ....Advanced optical tweezers technologies for biophysical measurements. While much is understood about the fundamental unit of life, the living cell, such as their behaviour and their biochemistry and genetics, the interface between these two is only poorly known. We will use optical tweezers, which can trap and move microscopic objects without physical contact, to measure forces on the molecular and cellular scale to study the mechanical properties of cells and biomolecules, including molecular motors, which are Nature's own nanomachines, advanced our knowledge of the fundamental machinery of life.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0454052
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$733,595.00
Summary
Tandem Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer and Robots for High Throughput Proteomics Analysis. This proposal seeks to establish the capacity to perform high-energy tandem mass spectrometry on a high throughput basis, through purchase and coordinated operation of a Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation - Time of Flight / Time of Flight - Mass Spectrometer and ancillary equipment, to enhance the proteomics expertise, infrastructure and research plans ....Tandem Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer and Robots for High Throughput Proteomics Analysis. This proposal seeks to establish the capacity to perform high-energy tandem mass spectrometry on a high throughput basis, through purchase and coordinated operation of a Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionisation - Time of Flight / Time of Flight - Mass Spectrometer and ancillary equipment, to enhance the proteomics expertise, infrastructure and research plans of a network of institutions from Queensland and New South Wales and their collaborators. Access to such instrumentation is critical to high level achievement in proteomics, a key platform technology for National Research Priorities relating to Frontier Technologies. No comparable instrument currently exists in Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347955
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
A Cell Sorter Facility for Neuroscience and Related Biotechnology. Neuroscience is entering an era of accelerated discovery in which Queensland neuroscientists can excel if they gain leadership in key technologies. One critical technology is the ability to obtain specific cell populations from various parts of the nervous system in sufficient quantity and purity to enable their accurate examination by gene array, proteomics and physiological techniques. The aim is to establish the world's first ....A Cell Sorter Facility for Neuroscience and Related Biotechnology. Neuroscience is entering an era of accelerated discovery in which Queensland neuroscientists can excel if they gain leadership in key technologies. One critical technology is the ability to obtain specific cell populations from various parts of the nervous system in sufficient quantity and purity to enable their accurate examination by gene array, proteomics and physiological techniques. The aim is to establish the world's first cell-sorting facility dedicated to the production of nerve cells suitable for molecular characterization and screening, providing the basis for identifying key molecules regulating brain function, ageing and repair of great importance to the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry.Read moreRead less
Signalling cross-talk through Suppressors Of Cytokine Signalling (SOCS) initiates luteolysis in the ovary. Members of the newly discovered SOCS protein family block cytokine signal transduction pathways, including those for prolactin and GH. We have discovered that one of these proteins, SOCS-3, is upregulated in the corpus luteum of the ovary by prostaglandins and propose that induction of prolactin or GH resistance is a hitherto unrecognised and critical step in luteolysis. We have also disco ....Signalling cross-talk through Suppressors Of Cytokine Signalling (SOCS) initiates luteolysis in the ovary. Members of the newly discovered SOCS protein family block cytokine signal transduction pathways, including those for prolactin and GH. We have discovered that one of these proteins, SOCS-3, is upregulated in the corpus luteum of the ovary by prostaglandins and propose that induction of prolactin or GH resistance is a hitherto unrecognised and critical step in luteolysis. We have also discovered that this cross-talk between prostaglandin- and cytokine-receptor signalling pathways occurs in preadipocyte and breast cell lines and propose that this research will serve as a paradigm for understanding how sensitivity to cytokines can be controlled at a molecular level.Read moreRead less