Neuronal communication relies on the process of exocytosis by which neurons release a neurotransmitter. Exocytosis is critical for the simplest muscle movement to complex tasks such as learning and memory, and is altered in several neurodegenerative pathologies. We will investigate how the protein Munc18 controls exocytosis. This research will be important for understanding how neurons communicate in health and disease and will be relevant to other processes such as insulin release in diabetes.
Investigations Into The Role Of Neurotransmitter Release From Astrocytes In The Hippocampus
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$233,057.00
Summary
While ten per cent of the brain consists of neurons, responsible for movement and thinking, the rest is made up of cells called glial cells. Scientists have always believed that astrocytes, a type of glial cell known for its distinctive star like shape, provide only mechanical and metabolic support for neurons, by maintaining the environment in the brain. This project will investigate how astrocytes actively regulate neuronal activity and may have important roles to play in learning and memory.
Uncover How Myosin-6 Underpins The Ca2+-dependent Recruitment Of Secretory Vesicles To The Cortical Actin Network
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$559,295.00
Summary
Neuronal communication relies on the process of exocytosis by which neurons release a neurotransmitter. Exocytosis underpins processes such as the simplest muscle movement to complex tasks such as learning and memory, and is altered in several neurodegenerative pathologies. We will investigate how the protein Myosin-6 controls exocytosis. This research will be important for understanding how neurons communicate in health and disease and will be relevant to other processes such as insulin release ....Neuronal communication relies on the process of exocytosis by which neurons release a neurotransmitter. Exocytosis underpins processes such as the simplest muscle movement to complex tasks such as learning and memory, and is altered in several neurodegenerative pathologies. We will investigate how the protein Myosin-6 controls exocytosis. This research will be important for understanding how neurons communicate in health and disease and will be relevant to other processes such as insulin release in diabetes.Read moreRead less
Regulation Of Glucose Uptake By Tropomyosins And Myosins
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$609,320.00
Summary
Defective import of glucose from the blood into fat and muscle is a key cause of adult-onset diabetes. We have identified a novel mechanical structure within muscle and fat cells defined by the protein tropomyosin that is involved in glucose import and potentially provides new targets for treatment of adult-onset diabetes and obesity.
Dissecting A Serial Killer: Investigating The Degranulation Pathways In Cytotoxic Lymphocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$604,459.00
Summary
When cells of the human body become cancerous or infected with virus, the body's immune system engages cytotoxic lymphocytes, known as "killer cells", that secrete an auxiliary of toxic proteins to eliminate these cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms by which these critical immune cells accomplish this task. Importantly, humans who are genetically lacking in critical constituents of the cytotoxic lymphocyte are less able to fight off a viral infection and may be at a hig ....When cells of the human body become cancerous or infected with virus, the body's immune system engages cytotoxic lymphocytes, known as "killer cells", that secrete an auxiliary of toxic proteins to eliminate these cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms by which these critical immune cells accomplish this task. Importantly, humans who are genetically lacking in critical constituents of the cytotoxic lymphocyte are less able to fight off a viral infection and may be at a higher risk of developing cancer.Read moreRead less
Molecular Dissection Of The Munc18c:Syntaxin4 Complex Required For Insulin-regulated Exocytosis In Adipocytes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,008.00
Summary
When blood glucose levels are high, insulin signals to fat and muscle cells to remove glucose from the blood. The uptake of glucose relies on membrane fusion events that deliver a specific glucose transporter protein to the cell surface in response to insulin signals. This process is affected in Type II diabetes. Our research will characterise the regulation of these membrane fusion events and will be important for understanding how insulin signals are communicated in health and disease.
The Role Of Down Syndrome Candidate Region 1 (DSCR1) In Neurotransmitter Release, Vesicle Recycling And Down Syndrome.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$352,318.00
Summary
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have three copies of human chromosome 21 (HSA21), rather than the normal two. The symptoms observed in DS individuals are therefore due to the overexpression of HSA21 genes. Since all individuals with DS develop symptoms in the brain similar to those see in Alzheimer's disease (AD), there may be a common mechanism that can be traced to the extra gene dosage from HSA21. We are interested in one of these genes, Down syndrome candidate region 1 (Dscr1), which is ....Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have three copies of human chromosome 21 (HSA21), rather than the normal two. The symptoms observed in DS individuals are therefore due to the overexpression of HSA21 genes. Since all individuals with DS develop symptoms in the brain similar to those see in Alzheimer's disease (AD), there may be a common mechanism that can be traced to the extra gene dosage from HSA21. We are interested in one of these genes, Down syndrome candidate region 1 (Dscr1), which is overexpressed in both DS and AD brains. We hypothesise that Dscr1 has a role in regulating exocytosis, a process in which chemical messengers are released from cells. Exocytosis is highly specialised in the brain where neurotransmitters are released from neuronal synapses in a process known as synaptic transmission. Reduced synaptic transmission is one of the earliest hallmark of DS and AD occurring long before the classical neurological traits of DS and AD such as plaque formation and dementia. We propose that alterations in Dscr1 expression are responsible for the reduced neuronal exocytosis observed in the early stages of DS and AD. We have generated mice in which Dscr1 expression is altered, as occurs in DS and AD brains, and our preliminary studies indicate that exocytosis is reduced in these mice. We now wish to find the intracellular changes responsible for regulating exocytosis when Dscr1 expression is altered. We also aim to compare this to exocytosis in classical DS mouse models which have an extra chromosome 21 and in similar DS mouse models which have normal levels of Dscr1. This project will uncover the currently unknown functions of Dscr1 in exocytosis in an animal model, allow us to gauge whether Dscr1 is solely responsible for altering exocytosis in DS amongst other HSA21 genes, enable us to better understand the mechanisms initiating DS and AD and possibly lead to new targets of early intervention in these diseases.Read moreRead less
Transport, Assembly And Egress Of Herpes Simplex Virus In Neurones
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$639,661.00
Summary
Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 are important pathogens, causing encephalitis, blindness and severe neonatal infection but they also enhance the acquisition of HIV three-fold. The transport of the virus to and from the periphery to the spinal cord is a key component of their life cycle. Determination of the exact mechanism will assist in a general understanding of nerve function and the development of new strategies for antiviral drugs.