Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100467
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Unravelling the intrinsic structure and stability of multiply charged anions in the gas-phase using photoelectron spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Molecules possessing multiple negative charges are common constituents in chemistry, influencing a range of processes ranging from photochemical smog formation to protein structure in vivo. This project will develop new technologies to probe their molecular structure in the gas-phase, leading to a more rigorous understanding of these species.
Rapid, ultra-sensitive protein structure elucidation by mass spectrometry. This project seeks to develop a method for rapidly discovering classes of molecules that bind to unique sites on proteins. The development of new pharmaceuticals is frequently delayed by the time and resources required to identify the sites that new chemical entities bind to protein targets. A recent discovery has resulted in the ability to completely characterise large protein sequences directly from single mass spectra. ....Rapid, ultra-sensitive protein structure elucidation by mass spectrometry. This project seeks to develop a method for rapidly discovering classes of molecules that bind to unique sites on proteins. The development of new pharmaceuticals is frequently delayed by the time and resources required to identify the sites that new chemical entities bind to protein targets. A recent discovery has resulted in the ability to completely characterise large protein sequences directly from single mass spectra. This project aims to leverage this breakthrough by developing a rapid new approach for revealing ligand-protein binding sites using whole-protein mass spectrometry. This would enable novel sites of interactions between molecules and protein targets to be discovered rapidly with high sensitivity. In turn, this would allow the efficient design of next-generation classes of bioactive molecules.Read moreRead less
New laser and mass spectrometry-based tools for comprehensive structural elucidation of lipids and their biomolecular interactions. Lipid-related disorders such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease are reaching epidemic proportions. We propose the development of specialised instrumentation to identify and quantify lipids (fats) in tissue and culture samples thus providing Australian scientists with unique capabilities to investigate the mechanisms of disease.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100059
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$220,000.00
Summary
Multiplexed capabilities for surface analysis and imaging by mass spectrometry. This facility will support research aimed at developing rapid and reliable analytical methods for the detection of chemicals directly from biological and man-made materials. The mass spectroscopy methods used at the facility will reveal molecular-level changes in systems ranging from the lens of the human eye to Colorbond steel® and have applications in the detection of chemical and biological hazards.
Spectroscopic investigations into nano-scale drug interactions and molecular processes in single living cells and isolated molecules. This project will develop micro-spectroscopy and nano-spectroscopy molecular imaging based techniques to spatially locate and determine the bonding sites of a new range of chemotherapeutic drugs designed to treat cancer and malaria. This project will adopt a translational approach looking first at drug interactions directly with molecules such as DNA. Secondly, in ....Spectroscopic investigations into nano-scale drug interactions and molecular processes in single living cells and isolated molecules. This project will develop micro-spectroscopy and nano-spectroscopy molecular imaging based techniques to spatially locate and determine the bonding sites of a new range of chemotherapeutic drugs designed to treat cancer and malaria. This project will adopt a translational approach looking first at drug interactions directly with molecules such as DNA. Secondly, investigating these interactions in living cells and finally applying the technology to tissue samples. The outcome of this research will be new drug screening technologies and methodologies to address two of the most devastating diseases to afflict human kind, offering hope to the countless millions suffering from these diseases.Read moreRead less
THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SPECTRO-ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND ITS APPLICATION TO CRUCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN INORGANIC SYSTEMS. Electrolysis is a very widespread and efficient method of chemical synthesis both in industry and research. However, the link between the control voltage and the resultant current is often complicated and easily misinterpreted. To overcome this fundamental problem, we propose an optical spectro-electrochemistry instrument based on a two-dimensional CCD detectio ....THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SPECTRO-ELECTROCHEMISTRY AND ITS APPLICATION TO CRUCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN INORGANIC SYSTEMS. Electrolysis is a very widespread and efficient method of chemical synthesis both in industry and research. However, the link between the control voltage and the resultant current is often complicated and easily misinterpreted. To overcome this fundamental problem, we propose an optical spectro-electrochemistry instrument based on a two-dimensional CCD detection array. This radically new approach enables simultaneous spectroscopic and spatial data mapping in the realm adjacent to an electrode surface. Important applications range from unequivocal identification of elusive molecules to monitoring metal corrosion. Our first objective is to elucidate certain crucial transformations of mono- and binuclear heavy metal complexes.Read moreRead less
Development of a Novel Photoelectrochemical Method for Ultra-sensitive and Selective Determination of Organic Pollutants. Rapidly deteriorating environmental conditions have caused worldwide fresh water shortage problems. For Australia, this is an urgent issue due to our limited fresh water resources. Globally, all levels of governments and legislative authorities have attempted to adopt stricter environmental legislation and better water resource management practice to address these urgent prob ....Development of a Novel Photoelectrochemical Method for Ultra-sensitive and Selective Determination of Organic Pollutants. Rapidly deteriorating environmental conditions have caused worldwide fresh water shortage problems. For Australia, this is an urgent issue due to our limited fresh water resources. Globally, all levels of governments and legislative authorities have attempted to adopt stricter environmental legislation and better water resource management practice to address these urgent problems. However, these priorities cannot be achieved until large scale and accurate environmental data are available. The success of the project would result in a new environmental monitoring system capable of online, real-time monitoring of environmental water quality, which will directly benefit water resource management practice in Australia. Read moreRead less
New strategies for characterising and monitoring protein-surface interactions: application to a biosensor for diabetic’s blood glucose regime effectiveness. This project aims to develop an antibody based biosensor for the detection of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) which serves as a marker of the effectiveness of a diabetic’s blood glucose treatment regime. Monitoring HbA1c is important as many of the long term health effects of diabetes are a consequence of high blood glucose levels. The si ....New strategies for characterising and monitoring protein-surface interactions: application to a biosensor for diabetic’s blood glucose regime effectiveness. This project aims to develop an antibody based biosensor for the detection of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) which serves as a marker of the effectiveness of a diabetic’s blood glucose treatment regime. Monitoring HbA1c is important as many of the long term health effects of diabetes are a consequence of high blood glucose levels. The simple to use technology will be a general detection strategy for proteins and hence will be applicable for the detection of a wide range of diseases and biomarkers. The research will also benefit Australia by training the new generation of scientists for Australia's biomedical diagnostics industry.Read moreRead less
Mass spectrometry to reveal the role of lipids in protein misfolding. This project aims to develop an integrated mass spectrometry-based approach to determine structures and dynamics of membrane associated proteins, and discover how lipids cause protein misfolding implicated in neurodegeneration. Lipid membranes may influence protein (mis)folding, aggregation and related toxicity. However, the complex and dynamic nature of the lipid-protein interactions involved means traditional methods cannot ....Mass spectrometry to reveal the role of lipids in protein misfolding. This project aims to develop an integrated mass spectrometry-based approach to determine structures and dynamics of membrane associated proteins, and discover how lipids cause protein misfolding implicated in neurodegeneration. Lipid membranes may influence protein (mis)folding, aggregation and related toxicity. However, the complex and dynamic nature of the lipid-protein interactions involved means traditional methods cannot easily characterise them, and they are poorly understood at a molecular level. The project expects to develop tools to bridge a critical gap in structural biology, while understanding lipid-protein interactions could lead to new therapies. This will ultimately provide benefits such as reduced health costs and better health outcomes.Read moreRead less
New strategies for highly sensitive chemical detection based on luminescent ruthenium and iridium complexes. Chemical reactions that emit tiny quantities of light, not even visible to the naked eye, can be used to detect the biomarkers of disease or traces of chemical or biological weapons in a terrorist attack. This project creates a new generation of reagents for this remarkably sensitive mode of detection for these and other important applications.