Ubiquitin And SUMO DNA Damage Response Signalling At Deprotected Telomeres During The Cell Cycle
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$302,627.00
Summary
Following genome damage cells stop the cell division process and initiate DNA repair. We discovered that at specific times during cell division his does not happen if the damage signals originate from the chromosome ends (i.e. “telomeres”). We anticipate this is necessary to prevent genomic instability in healthy cells and may be driving genomic instability in cancer cells. Experiments described here will elucidate the molecular mechanisms and biological significance of our observation.
Sex Hormones And Heart Disease In Older Women Study (The SHOW Study)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$594,672.00
Summary
Cardiovascular disease (CVD, heart disease and stroke) is the leading cause of death in women aged 65 and over. Counter-intuitively, androgens may be as, or even more important, than estrogens in determining CVD risk and all-cause mortality in women, but this is yet to be verified. We will document blood levels of androgens in women aged 70+ and determine whether androgens are associated with CVD and death in this large cohort of elderly well women.
Lungfish Paired Fins and the Origin of Limbs as an Evolutionary Novelty. This project will utilise a uniquely Australian animal, the lungfish, to address a hitherto unresolved problem of considerable scientific significance - how a fish fin evolved into a tetrapod (four-legged animal) limb. The Australian lungfish is the most primitive of the four surviving genera of lobe-finned fish and is recognised as the closest living ancestor to the tetrapods. It is listed as 'vulnerable' in its native ha ....Lungfish Paired Fins and the Origin of Limbs as an Evolutionary Novelty. This project will utilise a uniquely Australian animal, the lungfish, to address a hitherto unresolved problem of considerable scientific significance - how a fish fin evolved into a tetrapod (four-legged animal) limb. The Australian lungfish is the most primitive of the four surviving genera of lobe-finned fish and is recognised as the closest living ancestor to the tetrapods. It is listed as 'vulnerable' in its native habitat. Macquarie University, however, has the only captive breeding population of lungfish in the world. We are thus uniquely placed to address critically important questions concerning the evolution of fish into tetrapods. Read moreRead less
An FMRI Analysis Of The Functional Organization Within The Brain Of Experimental Superficial And Deep Orofacial Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$307,526.00
Summary
This project will investigate how the human brain processes a number of important aspects of human jaw muscle pain that are clinically relevant but poorly understood. For example, we do not understand why jaw muscle pain has such different behavioural effects to skin pain. Jaw muscle pain is associated with a significant emotional component not seen in with skin pains. Also, skin pain usually has a sharp or burning quality, is well-localized and is readily treated, while jaw muscle pain is a dee ....This project will investigate how the human brain processes a number of important aspects of human jaw muscle pain that are clinically relevant but poorly understood. For example, we do not understand why jaw muscle pain has such different behavioural effects to skin pain. Jaw muscle pain is associated with a significant emotional component not seen in with skin pains. Also, skin pain usually has a sharp or burning quality, is well-localized and is readily treated, while jaw muscle pain is a deep pain that has a dull, aching quality that may be referred to related sites of the face, head and neck. It is also not known why jaw muscle pain is more common in females in comparison to males. Chronic jaw muscle pain is a major symptom of patients with Temporomandibular Disorders, the most common form of non-dental orofacial pain and that involves pain in or about the jaw joint and-or jaw muscles, and often limitation of jaw movement. Chronic jaw muscle pain can have a severe effect on quality of life but its diagnosis and management is difficult. Despite the widespread prevalence of chronic orofacial pains, we have little information on the central processing of chronic human orofacial pain. This proposal will improve our fundamental understanding of how jaw muscle pain is processed in the brain. The way that the central nervous system processes and represents jaw muscle pain will help explain why these pains present differently in the clinic and should provide important information on the differences between females and males in the representation of jaw muscle pain. This information on the central processing of chronic orofacial pain is crucial to inform the direction of novel or specific management strategies. Our long-term goal is to improve the diagnosis and management of patients with Temporomandibular Disorders, and the present application represents a major new direction of research.Read moreRead less
Linking mutant zebrafish phenotypes with their underlying genetic lesions. Zebrafish mutants have been generated with many interesting abnormalities, but to understand these abnormalities, the defective genes must be identified by positional cloning. We seek to identify the defective genes underpinning four mutants. Mutant #562 develops a normal nervous system which then undergoes rapid degeneration. The mutant flotte lotte has abnormal gut development. Two mutants with defective early blood for ....Linking mutant zebrafish phenotypes with their underlying genetic lesions. Zebrafish mutants have been generated with many interesting abnormalities, but to understand these abnormalities, the defective genes must be identified by positional cloning. We seek to identify the defective genes underpinning four mutants. Mutant #562 develops a normal nervous system which then undergoes rapid degeneration. The mutant flotte lotte has abnormal gut development. Two mutants with defective early blood formation will be studied. We will establish techniques for several steps that will be useful for all zebrafish mapping projects. We expect the genetic characterization of these mutants to provide new insights into nerve cell survival, gut development, and blood formation.Read moreRead less
Molecular technology for biological control of the most destructive horticultural pest in Australia. As part of a world-wide effort to apply transgenic technologies for the improvement of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), this project will place Australian research at the forefront of the latest developments in the field. With a requirement for fruit fly free status of horticultural production and an increasing demand for pesticide free produce, improved SIT strains of Queensland fruit fly wi ....Molecular technology for biological control of the most destructive horticultural pest in Australia. As part of a world-wide effort to apply transgenic technologies for the improvement of the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), this project will place Australian research at the forefront of the latest developments in the field. With a requirement for fruit fly free status of horticultural production and an increasing demand for pesticide free produce, improved SIT strains of Queensland fruit fly will be vital to maintain our competitiveness in international horticultural markets. Rural and regional areas will be the main beneficiaries from the outcomes, with health benefits, a clean and green image for horticulture, simplified marketing and reduced costs. Read moreRead less
Neurogenesis in bilateral larval and radial adult body plans: identification of echinoderm homologues of the chordate central nervous system. The modern synthesis of embryology and gene expression studies, as undertaken in this project with sea stars, is a major way forward to achieve advances in our understanding of animal evolution and generate new insights into the mystery that surrounds the origin of our own phylum, the Chordata. This project utilises life history diversity in species that a ....Neurogenesis in bilateral larval and radial adult body plans: identification of echinoderm homologues of the chordate central nervous system. The modern synthesis of embryology and gene expression studies, as undertaken in this project with sea stars, is a major way forward to achieve advances in our understanding of animal evolution and generate new insights into the mystery that surrounds the origin of our own phylum, the Chordata. This project utilises life history diversity in species that are unique Australian fauna. Extreme life history diversity as seen in these sea stars is unparalleled on a global scale and provides an important resource to generate new discoveries on the processes underlying evolution in the sea and enhance our understanding of marine systems. Read moreRead less
Controlling the first step of differentiation of embryonic cells. This project aims to improve understanding of how diverse cell types are generated for building the body plan of the embryo. The first step of embryonic cell lineage differentiation takes place at early gastrulation when the multipotent embryonic cells acquire the attributes of specific tissue lineages. This project intends to elucidate how inductive signals and gene function are integrated to drive the lineage choice of the naïve ....Controlling the first step of differentiation of embryonic cells. This project aims to improve understanding of how diverse cell types are generated for building the body plan of the embryo. The first step of embryonic cell lineage differentiation takes place at early gastrulation when the multipotent embryonic cells acquire the attributes of specific tissue lineages. This project intends to elucidate how inductive signals and gene function are integrated to drive the lineage choice of the naïve cells, by tracking the impact of the activity of signalling pathways and gene regulation on cell differentiation. This may deliver insights into the temporal hierarchy and functional attributes of the molecular switches that control stem cell differentiation. Expected outcomes may have applications in tissue engineering.Read moreRead less
A molecular paradigm of organ formation during embryonic development: the role of RhoGTPase. How do cells in the embryo acquire the correct shape and structure to form tissues and organs? This project will reveal the genes and proteins required for the formation of the early gut and associated organs and will enhance our understanding of how organs are constructed from the building blocks in the embryo.