Defining The Role Of A Palmitoylated Variant Of Sphingosine Kinase 1 In Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,452.00
Summary
Sphingosine kinase is a protein that when dysregulated is involved in cancer development and progression. We have recently made a substantial breakthrough in this area by identifing a naturally occuring variant of sphingosine kinase that is constantly activated and has an enhanced ability to induce cancer. In this study we will examine and target this form of sphingosine kinase as a potential therapeutic intervention in cancer.
Role Of Hsp40 And Hsp70 In Huntingtin Misfolding, Oligomerization And Inclusion Assembly
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$590,103.00
Summary
Huntington disease results from a mutation that causes the Htt protein to become abnormally sticky and form toxic clusters in neurons. Cells have natural defences to clustering with proteins called chaperones, which are exciting therapeutic targets. This project will examine how chaperones defend against toxic Htt clustering with cutting-edge imaging technologies. The knowledge gained will aid in designing therapeutic strategies that stimulate the defence processes and suppress the clusters.
Sphingosine Kinase As A Target For Anti-cancer Therapy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$590,785.00
Summary
Sphingosine kinase is a protein involved in the development and progression of numerous types of solid tumors and leukaemias. We have recently made a major break-through by identifing how the cancer-inducing activity of sphingosine kinase is controlled. In this study we will target these control mechanisms to develop potential new anti-cancer therapies.
Characterisation Of TIA Proteins In RNA Recognition And Stress Granule Formation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$566,966.00
Summary
Cells in our body need to be able to respond to stresses such as heat, hypoxia, chemical stress or infection. In this project we investigate the specialized TIA proteins that have the job of protecting RNA in stressed cells. We will investigate the way TIA proteins recognize particular mRNA and form temporary protective clusters. By better understanding this process we will gain insight into the way in which cells are susceptible to damage in diseases including neurodegenerative disease.
DBHS Protein RNA Interactions In Health And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$748,073.00
Summary
In cells involved in cancer, the interactions of DBHS proteins with each other, and with nucleic acids (eg RNA) are different to those in healthy cells. Only once we understand how DBHS proteins interact with some important RNA molecules, and how these interactions affect cell biology, can we begin to open up new pathways for therapy. This proposal aims at understanding and explaining this complex aspect of biology.
Nuclear Sirtuins At The Interface Between Epigenetic Regulation And Human Cytomegalovirus Pathogenesis: A Proteomics Perspective
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,488.00
Summary
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a human pathogen that infects over 60% of the adult population, and is a major cause of birth defects causing permanent hearing and vision loss, and mental retardation. To investigate the critical involvement of host epigenetic factors, I will study the roles of sirtuins during HCMV infection. Through proteomic, genomic, microscopy, and bioinformatic techniques, I aim to further our understanding of viral pathogenesis, towards developing novel therapies.
I am a neuroscientist working on determining the different pathogenic mechanisms occurring in neurodegenerative movement disorders and dementias, and translating these findings for clinical neurologists and neuropathologists.
The cell is the building block of life. This proposal focusses on the surface of the cell, the plasma membrane, and specialised structures called caveolae that are an abundant feature of animal cells. Altered caveolae are a feature of many human disease conditions. In this proposal we will address the function of caveolae. We will test the idea that proteins are released from caveolae into the cell when cells are stressed forming a novel signalling pathway disrupted in disease.