The role of phosphoinositides in endosomal maturation dynamics. This project aims to investigate the regulation of an intracellular compartment within a cell called endosomes, which plays critical roles in cellular homeostasis, signalling and pathogen entry. New knowledge is expected to be generated in understanding endosome maturation and the signalling events that drive this process using a unique, multidisciplinary approach combining state of the art imaging techniques and high throughput pro ....The role of phosphoinositides in endosomal maturation dynamics. This project aims to investigate the regulation of an intracellular compartment within a cell called endosomes, which plays critical roles in cellular homeostasis, signalling and pathogen entry. New knowledge is expected to be generated in understanding endosome maturation and the signalling events that drive this process using a unique, multidisciplinary approach combining state of the art imaging techniques and high throughput protein analysis. The anticipated outcomes will be to define the molecular steps that govern the membrane-bound machinery on endosomes that directs endosomal maturation. This should provide significant benefits in delineating a process that is linked to almost all aspects of cell life.Read moreRead less
Manipulation of mitochondrial function by Legionella pneumophila. . The intracellular bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila co-evolved with eukaryotic hosts and has developed sophisticated mechanisms to manipulate human cell function – mitochondria in particular – by secreting >300 effector proteins through a specialised Type-IV system into the host cell. This research aims to understand the function of effector proteins targeted to mitochondria; delivering important new knowledge in host-pa ....Manipulation of mitochondrial function by Legionella pneumophila. . The intracellular bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila co-evolved with eukaryotic hosts and has developed sophisticated mechanisms to manipulate human cell function – mitochondria in particular – by secreting >300 effector proteins through a specialised Type-IV system into the host cell. This research aims to understand the function of effector proteins targeted to mitochondria; delivering important new knowledge in host-pathogen and mitochondrial biology and advanced cell biology tools. With most of the effector proteins yet to be characterised, benefits from the project will be to reveal specifically how these target mitochondria, and more broadly, how bacterial pathogens manipulate organelles for their survival.Read moreRead less
Organising Intracellular Compartments by Formation of Transport Carriers. This project aims to investigate the cellular components which generate carriers that transport material between compartments within the cell. The process of sorting proteins and sending them to the right place is a fundamental mechanism critical to understand how individual proteins function as the move around within cells. The generated knowledge about how cells organise themselves through the movement of proteins betwee ....Organising Intracellular Compartments by Formation of Transport Carriers. This project aims to investigate the cellular components which generate carriers that transport material between compartments within the cell. The process of sorting proteins and sending them to the right place is a fundamental mechanism critical to understand how individual proteins function as the move around within cells. The generated knowledge about how cells organise themselves through the movement of proteins between endosomal intracellular compartments will provide significant benefits by enhancing our capacity to understand this conserved cellular pathway which ensures the integrity of all cellular processes including signalling, communication, homeostasis and development.Read moreRead less
Fyn-STEP-Tau axis: the nanoscale mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. This project investigates how brain cells use their molecular machinery to communicate with one another. At the heart of this process lies the synapses, the contact points that connect brain cells. This project will employ an innovative combination of quantitative microscopy techniques, gene knockout mouse models, and advanced computational and mathematical analyses to generate new knowledge on how a crucial set of proteins orga ....Fyn-STEP-Tau axis: the nanoscale mechanisms of synaptic plasticity. This project investigates how brain cells use their molecular machinery to communicate with one another. At the heart of this process lies the synapses, the contact points that connect brain cells. This project will employ an innovative combination of quantitative microscopy techniques, gene knockout mouse models, and advanced computational and mathematical analyses to generate new knowledge on how a crucial set of proteins organises in space and time to regulate synaptic connectivity. This will provide significant benefits, including molecular-level insight into the inner workings of the brain and interdisciplinary training for students. The expected outcomes include a deeper understanding of brain functions, such as learning and memory.Read moreRead less
Molecular basis of glutamate receptor trafficking in neuronal plasticity . Neurons communicate via synapses, where chemicals (such as glutamate) are released to transmit neuronal signals. This proposal is aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and adaptive plasticity, which are essential for normal brain function. The proposed research will combine biophysical, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to elucidate how the trafficking of glutamate recep ....Molecular basis of glutamate receptor trafficking in neuronal plasticity . Neurons communicate via synapses, where chemicals (such as glutamate) are released to transmit neuronal signals. This proposal is aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and adaptive plasticity, which are essential for normal brain function. The proposed research will combine biophysical, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to elucidate how the trafficking of glutamate receptors is regulated in neurons during plasticity and learning. The outcomes will enhance our understanding of how neural plasticity is generated and maintained, knowledge that is critical for our understanding of the cellular correlates of information, sensory and motor processing, as well as learning, memory and cognition.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL210100107
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,960,000.00
Summary
Tracking nanoparticles: from cell culture to in vivo delivery. Understanding how cells function in the ‘real-time’ context of a living organism is a key challenge in the new era of cell biology. Using super-resolution light microscopy and state-of-the-art correlative electron microscopy together with model systems, this Fellowship aims to deliver new understandings of cells in their natural environment. Significantly, the project will elucidate how proteins or nanoparticles pass from the bloodst ....Tracking nanoparticles: from cell culture to in vivo delivery. Understanding how cells function in the ‘real-time’ context of a living organism is a key challenge in the new era of cell biology. Using super-resolution light microscopy and state-of-the-art correlative electron microscopy together with model systems, this Fellowship aims to deliver new understandings of cells in their natural environment. Significantly, the project will elucidate how proteins or nanoparticles pass from the bloodstream into tissues and then into cells, and in doing so deliver much-needed knowledge of protein and particle trafficking in situ. Outcomes and benefits include leading-edge fundamental science into the function of cells, education, outreach and building of Australian capacity in high-demand skill sets.Read moreRead less
Regulation of activity-induced glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. Neurons communicate via synapses, where chemicals (such as glutamate) are released to transmit neuronal signals. This proposal is aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and adaptive plasticity, which are essential for normal brain function. The proposed research will combine biophysical, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to elucidate the role of a calcium binding protein i ....Regulation of activity-induced glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. Neurons communicate via synapses, where chemicals (such as glutamate) are released to transmit neuronal signals. This proposal is aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and adaptive plasticity, which are essential for normal brain function. The proposed research will combine biophysical, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to elucidate the role of a calcium binding protein in controlling glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. The outcomes will enhance our understanding of how neural plasticity is generated and maintained, knowledge that is critical for our understanding of cellular correlates of information, sensory and motor processing, as well as learning, memory and cognition. Read moreRead less
Tracking DNA repair dynamics in the nuclear landscape of a living cell. This project aims to track DNA repair factor recruitment in the nuclear landscape of a living cell and quantify the role of nucleus architecture in maintenance of genome integrity. By coupling advanced fluorescence microscopy with a novel DNA double strand break inducible cell system, this project expects to uncover how the nucleus spatially coordinates DNA damage detection, assessment and repair in real time. This research ....Tracking DNA repair dynamics in the nuclear landscape of a living cell. This project aims to track DNA repair factor recruitment in the nuclear landscape of a living cell and quantify the role of nucleus architecture in maintenance of genome integrity. By coupling advanced fluorescence microscopy with a novel DNA double strand break inducible cell system, this project expects to uncover how the nucleus spatially coordinates DNA damage detection, assessment and repair in real time. This research is important because DNA damage threatens organism survival and this project has the potential to define how this genomic threat is resolved at the single molecule level. The benefit of this research is a fundamental insight into DNA repair biology and development of imaging technology to quantify genome function.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100700
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$429,449.00
Summary
A novel bacterial secretion system for applications in nanobiotechnology. This project aims to characterise a new molecular machine, called the S-Pump. Molecular machines drive the complex biology in all cells and are an exciting area of translational research, with broad potential for industrial applications. This project expects to provide fundamental insights into how bacterial S-Pumps contribute to antimicrobial resistance and enhancing food production. Expected outcomes include new tools fo ....A novel bacterial secretion system for applications in nanobiotechnology. This project aims to characterise a new molecular machine, called the S-Pump. Molecular machines drive the complex biology in all cells and are an exciting area of translational research, with broad potential for industrial applications. This project expects to provide fundamental insights into how bacterial S-Pumps contribute to antimicrobial resistance and enhancing food production. Expected outcomes include new tools for molecular machine discovery and identification of ways to adapt molecular machines for biotechnological applications. This work should enhance Australia-UK ties through collaboration, provide benefits toward nanobiotechnology and economic benefits through more efficient food production.Read moreRead less