Modeling Human Actin Related Protein 2/3 Complex Subunit 1B (ARPC1B) Deficiency In Mice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$755,005.00
Summary
The actin cytoskeleton forms the structure that not only keeps cells in their normal shape but is also essential for the movement of cells and for interaction between cells. We have recently identified the first patients with an immunodeficiency caused by a defect in a gene called ARPC1B, which plays a crucial role in the regulation of actin. Through the investigation of novel mouse models we will elucidate the pathomechanism underlying the disease of these patients.
Investigating B Cell Development, Maintenance And High-affinity Antibody Production By ENU Mutagenesis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,388.00
Summary
B cells are essential for the protection against infections. This application aims to identify new genes that are crucial for the development or function of B cells and will investigate how mutations in newly discovered genes contribute to defects in the development and function of B cells and the pathogenesis of B cell leukaemia.
How Does NF-kB2 Regulate Thymic Selection To Prevent Organ-specific Autoimmune Disease?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$787,600.00
Summary
Autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes and thyroiditis arise from defects that cause the immune system to confuse self and non-self. Normally, this distinction is programmed in the thymus. We recently identified the gene that causes a form of autoimmune disease. We also made an important discovery about how the thymus gland regulates self-non-self discrimination. We will build on these two discoveries to gain a precise understanding of how the immune system normally avoids autoimmune disease.
Uncovering The Basis Of Inflammatory And Immunodeficiency Diseases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$15,718,075.00
Summary
A world-class team from 3 institutions, spanning disciplines of clinical and experimental immunology, therapeutics, signalling and genetics, will identify how immune and inflammatory responses are controlled in both health and disease. The major outcomes of this work will be the generation of new knowledge, concepts and approaches to diagnose, prevent and treat the major human health problems of autoimmune diseases, inflammation, allergy and immunodeficiency.
The Shape of Plants; Discovering factors that control morphology by organizing the cytoskeleton. Understanding how plants generate the huge diversity of shapes seen in nature is both a scientific challenge and a biotechnological opportunity. Microtubules dominate cell architecture, providing dynamic, yet rigid, frameworks for defining or changing growth polarity. We recently discovered and cloned MOR1, a gene that is essential for organizing microtubules and controlling morphogenesis. This place ....The Shape of Plants; Discovering factors that control morphology by organizing the cytoskeleton. Understanding how plants generate the huge diversity of shapes seen in nature is both a scientific challenge and a biotechnological opportunity. Microtubules dominate cell architecture, providing dynamic, yet rigid, frameworks for defining or changing growth polarity. We recently discovered and cloned MOR1, a gene that is essential for organizing microtubules and controlling morphogenesis. This places us in a strong position to resolve a long-standing mystery: how are microtubules organized? We intend to define MOR1's structural attributes, identify its interacting proteins and innovate an ambitious screen for additional genes that have related functions. This project should stimulate new ideas and applications.Read moreRead less
Investigating The Cellular Response To Iron-Depletion: The Trilogy Of ASK1, Thioredoxin And Ribonucleotide Reductase
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$552,572.00
Summary
Iron is crucial for many essential biological processes. Recently, we demonstrated that iron-depletion can affects important signalling pathways (e.g., JNK and p38) that play important roles in growth arrest and apoptosis. This study is designed to investigate the cellular and molecular effects of iron depletion which currently remains unclear. The research is crucial for understanding: (1) the effects of iron deficiency and (2) for understanding the effects of iron chelators that are used for t ....Iron is crucial for many essential biological processes. Recently, we demonstrated that iron-depletion can affects important signalling pathways (e.g., JNK and p38) that play important roles in growth arrest and apoptosis. This study is designed to investigate the cellular and molecular effects of iron depletion which currently remains unclear. The research is crucial for understanding: (1) the effects of iron deficiency and (2) for understanding the effects of iron chelators that are used for treating various diseases.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453295
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$369,697.00
Summary
NMR cryosystem for structural and functional biology. State-of-the-art hardware is requested for the 600-MHz NMR spectrometers situated at University of Sydney and UNSW. A cryosystem installed at USyd. will provide a massive boost in productivity and will allow projects previously inaccessible due to excessive turn-around times, or sensitivity or solubility problems to become tractable. This system will provide new opportunities to researchers from USyd., UNSW and ANU, but will restrict the ver ....NMR cryosystem for structural and functional biology. State-of-the-art hardware is requested for the 600-MHz NMR spectrometers situated at University of Sydney and UNSW. A cryosystem installed at USyd. will provide a massive boost in productivity and will allow projects previously inaccessible due to excessive turn-around times, or sensitivity or solubility problems to become tractable. This system will provide new opportunities to researchers from USyd., UNSW and ANU, but will restrict the versatility of the USyd. instrument. The installation of a TBI probe at UNSW will counter this, and provide a REAL network of NMR instruments across NSW and the ACT.Read moreRead less
CesA (cellulose synthase) genes of Arabidopsis; all doing the same job or specialists cooperating to make the most abundant biopolymer. The biosphere makes more cellulose than any other polymer with fibre industries depending on its physical properties and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels depending on its stability as a carbon sink. Demonstrations that cellulose production needs CesA genes drove recent progress in elucidating the mechanism of synthesis. CesA proteins all look very similar but i ....CesA (cellulose synthase) genes of Arabidopsis; all doing the same job or specialists cooperating to make the most abundant biopolymer. The biosphere makes more cellulose than any other polymer with fibre industries depending on its physical properties and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels depending on its stability as a carbon sink. Demonstrations that cellulose production needs CesA genes drove recent progress in elucidating the mechanism of synthesis. CesA proteins all look very similar but if all do the same job, why do plants need so many and why do none seem redundant? We will make gene interchanges in transgenic plants, build chimeric genes and identify where each CesA protein operates. This will identify their individual and cooperative contributions to cellulose production.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989084
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$275,000.00
Summary
Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Live Cell Imaging. The University of Newcastle has invested heavily in its biological and life sciences to create a research nexus focusing on national research priorities in biotechnology and environmental protection. The Live Cell Imaging platform will be utilized by scientists researching such strategically important areas including developmental biology, intracellular signalling cascades, cell cycle dynamics, plant development and microbiology. Moreover ....Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy for Live Cell Imaging. The University of Newcastle has invested heavily in its biological and life sciences to create a research nexus focusing on national research priorities in biotechnology and environmental protection. The Live Cell Imaging platform will be utilized by scientists researching such strategically important areas including developmental biology, intracellular signalling cascades, cell cycle dynamics, plant development and microbiology. Moreover, this component of the University's research portfolio plays a major role in the postgraduate training of young Australian scientists who will, in turn, fuel future developments in both the life sciences and biotechnology industries.Read moreRead less
Role of a novel zinc-binding motif in the structure-function of deubiquitinating enzymes. The ubiquitin pathway destroys many proteins that control cell function and growth, by attaching ubiquitin to them and marking them for degradation. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) regulate protein destruction by controlling the amount of ubiquitin attached. DUBs and the ubiquitin pathway can also be manipulated in biotechnology applications. However, very little is known about the structure/function of DUB ....Role of a novel zinc-binding motif in the structure-function of deubiquitinating enzymes. The ubiquitin pathway destroys many proteins that control cell function and growth, by attaching ubiquitin to them and marking them for degradation. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) regulate protein destruction by controlling the amount of ubiquitin attached. DUBs and the ubiquitin pathway can also be manipulated in biotechnology applications. However, very little is known about the structure/function of DUBs. We have identified a new zinc-binding motif in DUBs, and we will explore how this contributes to their structure, and interactions with other proteins. This will significantly enhance our knowledge of how DUBs function in both biotechnology and in controlling cell function.Read moreRead less