Plant immunity to fungal and bacterial pathogens. Since 2003, the Australian wheat crop has been threatened by a continuing stripe rust epidemic, which has required an additional production expense of at least $100 million per annum in fungicides. This Australian National University (ANU) - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) joint proposal aims to exploit the next-generation genome sequencing and associated bioinformatic and proteomic methods which are poised to ....Plant immunity to fungal and bacterial pathogens. Since 2003, the Australian wheat crop has been threatened by a continuing stripe rust epidemic, which has required an additional production expense of at least $100 million per annum in fungicides. This Australian National University (ANU) - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) joint proposal aims to exploit the next-generation genome sequencing and associated bioinformatic and proteomic methods which are poised to revolutionise biology to investigate the wheat-fungus interaction. We will develop new effective approaches for environmentally benign stripe rust control based on new knowledge about how this fungus causes disease and avoids the wheat's immune surveillance system.Read moreRead less
Engineering plants via modified microtubule dynamics. The plant microtubule cytoskeleton is involved in many economically important functions such as controlling growth and development, cellulose deposition, and responses to pathogens and salinity. This project will increase our understanding of how the regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton affects these processes and move us nearer to achieving economically important goals, such as the development of crop plants with improved traits. Thi ....Engineering plants via modified microtubule dynamics. The plant microtubule cytoskeleton is involved in many economically important functions such as controlling growth and development, cellulose deposition, and responses to pathogens and salinity. This project will increase our understanding of how the regulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton affects these processes and move us nearer to achieving economically important goals, such as the development of crop plants with improved traits. This project will also help maintain Australia's position at the forefront of plant cell and molecular biology.Read moreRead less
A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian ....A novel link between plant pathogen defence and DNA repair capability. Plants and plant-based industries are essential for the provision of food, clothing and building materials and underpin the economies of rural communities. Plant yield and quality and the biodiversity of natural systems are dramatically reduced by disease. The fundamental knowledge gained from our research will enable manipulation of the factors that enhance disease resistance resulting in a significant benefit to Australian agriculture and protection of our natural resources. The current reliance for disease control on chemicals that damage the environment will be reduced and our research will contribute directly to the provision of cheaper, simpler and more effective methods of control.
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Dual-targeting of proteins and its role in coordinating organelle functions in plants. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia's future will be built on understanding and manipulating the expression of groups of genes to influence whole plant phenotypes providing more robust plants and high value plant products. Plant energy organelles are central components in plant metabolism, their coordination by processes such as dual-targeting has potential to modify germination characteristics, ear ....Dual-targeting of proteins and its role in coordinating organelle functions in plants. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia's future will be built on understanding and manipulating the expression of groups of genes to influence whole plant phenotypes providing more robust plants and high value plant products. Plant energy organelles are central components in plant metabolism, their coordination by processes such as dual-targeting has potential to modify germination characteristics, early seedling vigour, and stress tolerance. Studying energy organelles could generate valuable intellectual property to be applied within Australia's large plant-based industries and at the same time provide a rich intellectual environment for the training of research students and postdoctoral researchers.Read moreRead less
The role of changes to the proteome in the signalling of stress response in plant mitochondria. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia's harsh climate will be built on manipulating the expression of groups of genes and understanding how the proteins they encode operate to influence whole plant phenotypes under stress to provide more robust plants and improved plant products. Mitochondria are central components in plant metabolism. Stabilizing their function during stress has the potentia ....The role of changes to the proteome in the signalling of stress response in plant mitochondria. Innovative agricultural solutions in Australia's harsh climate will be built on manipulating the expression of groups of genes and understanding how the proteins they encode operate to influence whole plant phenotypes under stress to provide more robust plants and improved plant products. Mitochondria are central components in plant metabolism. Stabilizing their function during stress has the potential to modify germination characteristics, early seedling vigour, and stress tolerance. Studying plant mitochondria supports the generation of intellectual property to be applied within Australia's plant-based industries and at the same time provide a rich intellectual environment for the training of students and researchers.Read moreRead less
Defining The Role And Contribution Of Cdc37 To Signal Transduction And Tumourigenesis By Src-family Kinases
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$411,430.00
Summary
Cells respond to extracellular stimuli, such as growth factors and hormones, by activating intracellular networks of signaling molecules. It is the activation of these signaling networks that is ultimately responsible for mediating the biological responses of cells to extracellular stimuli (e.g. insulin stimulating glucose metabolism by cells). Members of the Src-family of tyrosine kinases are paramount among signaling molecules, as they are able to directly initiate the activation of a cascade ....Cells respond to extracellular stimuli, such as growth factors and hormones, by activating intracellular networks of signaling molecules. It is the activation of these signaling networks that is ultimately responsible for mediating the biological responses of cells to extracellular stimuli (e.g. insulin stimulating glucose metabolism by cells). Members of the Src-family of tyrosine kinases are paramount among signaling molecules, as they are able to directly initiate the activation of a cascade of signaling networks that regulate the activity of the cell. Significantly though, the inappropriate activation of Src-family kinases has been implicated in the development of cancer, particularly breast and colon cancer, in humans. To fulfill their signaling functions however, Src-family kinases must first be folded into an active conformation upon their synthesis in the cell then be maintained in this conformation. Although previous studies, including our own, have implicated a class of proteins called molecular chaperones in this process, little is known about how the folding of Src-family kinases by these proteins is achieved and regulated. The overall aim of this study is to determine how the folding of Hck, one member of the Src-family of tyrosine kinases, into a conformation that enables it to participate in signaling networks is achieved and regulated. It is expected that the results from this study will provide significant new insight into how this process might influence the ability of cells to respond to extracellular stimuli and potentially contribute to the conversion of a normal cell into one with tumourigenic properties. Findings from this project may be particularly important in the context of human cancer. A better knowledge of how the signaling activity of Src-family kinases is regulated by molecular chaperones might provide a new avenue of investigation for the identification of novel chemotherapeutic agents.Read moreRead less