Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100611
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$427,116.00
Summary
How do extracellular vesicles fuse with cells to deliver messages? Aims: This project aims to investigate how tiny packages released by all cells in the human body, called extracellular vesicles, deliver messages into neighbouring cells facilitating cell-to-cell communication.
Significance: This project expects to generate key knowledge in the area of cell-to-cell communication by using innovative molecular biology approaches and cutting-edge microscopy and biophysical techniques.
Expected outco ....How do extracellular vesicles fuse with cells to deliver messages? Aims: This project aims to investigate how tiny packages released by all cells in the human body, called extracellular vesicles, deliver messages into neighbouring cells facilitating cell-to-cell communication.
Significance: This project expects to generate key knowledge in the area of cell-to-cell communication by using innovative molecular biology approaches and cutting-edge microscopy and biophysical techniques.
Expected outcomes: Expected outcomes include high resolution details of which molecules are packaged onto extracellular vesicles and how they are delivered into recipient cells.
Benefits: This project should contribute significantly to understanding extracellular vesicle function and guide their eventual use as therapeutics.Read moreRead less
Understanding how Plasmepsin V directs export of malaria virulence proteins to the host cell. This project aims to characterise how malaria parasites survive and manipulate infected host cells by exporting virulence proteins. This project may identify essential proteins that allow the malaria parasite to transform the host in order to survive, replicate and hide from the immune system and provide new data on protein export in liver-stages.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100165
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
Electron microscopy cryopreparation facility for biomedical research. The proposed cryopreparation facility will allow cell and molecular biologists and material scientists in the region to prepare samples for ultrastructural research not currently possible due to insufficient local resources, and will thus significantly boost their research. The facility will support a wide range of world class medical and material scientists, including those visiting the Australian Synchrotron, whose research ....Electron microscopy cryopreparation facility for biomedical research. The proposed cryopreparation facility will allow cell and molecular biologists and material scientists in the region to prepare samples for ultrastructural research not currently possible due to insufficient local resources, and will thus significantly boost their research. The facility will support a wide range of world class medical and material scientists, including those visiting the Australian Synchrotron, whose research in health sciences and advanced materials characterisation facilitates the goals of promoting and maintaining good health and frontier technologies. The instrumentation will enhance training capacity in the region and provide young Australian scientists with direct experience of modern electron microscopy techniques.Read moreRead less
Mitochondrial biogenesis in mammalian cells. This project aims to understand the inner workings of a molecular machine involved in mitochondrial protein biogenesis. Mitochondria are essential organelles that provide the bulk of cellular energy. Genesis of the organelle relies on the coordinated synthesis and transport of both proteins and lipids that make up the organelle. This project plans to define the architecture of the molecular machine, outline how its components function, and explore the ....Mitochondrial biogenesis in mammalian cells. This project aims to understand the inner workings of a molecular machine involved in mitochondrial protein biogenesis. Mitochondria are essential organelles that provide the bulk of cellular energy. Genesis of the organelle relies on the coordinated synthesis and transport of both proteins and lipids that make up the organelle. This project plans to define the architecture of the molecular machine, outline how its components function, and explore the relationship between proteins and lipids in mitochondrial genesis. These results are expected to provide knowledge about how mitochondrial creation is regulated.Read moreRead less
Expression and substrate recognition by MARCH ubiquitin ligases. Eukaryotic cells are compartmentalised, with different organelles playing distinct functions. This project will characterise the MARCHs, proteins which control the localisation and half-life of other proteins. Understanding how the MARCHs work will provide novel insights into fundamental cellular processes that play major roles in many biological functions.
Deciphering the cellular defences against aggregating proteins in human disease. Cells have inbuilt defences for coping with proteins that bend into abnormal sticky shapes that form toxic clusters. In many diseases, including Huntington's, the clusters severely damage nerve cells. This project will identify the genes and mechanisms cells use to protect themselves from toxic clusters, which could provide new therapeutic targets.
The molecular blue-print for a mitochondrial nanomachine. The objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the architecture of a biological nanomachine through broad-reaching investigation of the molecular contacts that enable the component parts to work together. The project plans to take the foundation knowledge of each of the component parts and build a conceptual framework of engineering principles to understand how the nanomachine is assembled, using a breakthroug ....The molecular blue-print for a mitochondrial nanomachine. The objective of the project is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the architecture of a biological nanomachine through broad-reaching investigation of the molecular contacts that enable the component parts to work together. The project plans to take the foundation knowledge of each of the component parts and build a conceptual framework of engineering principles to understand how the nanomachine is assembled, using a breakthrough technology to address the precise architecture of the component parts within the nanomachine.Read moreRead less
The function of the ribbon structure of the Golgi apparatus in vertebrates. The aim of the project is to determine the function of the Golgi ribbon structure in higher order cell functions, including metabolism, cell cycle, and cell polarity in both cultured cells and whole organisms. Understanding of the functions of the Golgi has been restricted to the regulation of glycosylation and membrane transport. However, it is now recognised that the Golgi apparatus feeds into the wiring of a range of ....The function of the ribbon structure of the Golgi apparatus in vertebrates. The aim of the project is to determine the function of the Golgi ribbon structure in higher order cell functions, including metabolism, cell cycle, and cell polarity in both cultured cells and whole organisms. Understanding of the functions of the Golgi has been restricted to the regulation of glycosylation and membrane transport. However, it is now recognised that the Golgi apparatus feeds into the wiring of a range of cellular networks in higher organisms such as cell polarisation, directed migration, metabolism and autophagy. Vertebrates have evolved mechanisms for joining individual Golgi stacks into a ribbon structure. The relevance of this ribbon structure remains a mystery. The project aims to answer this major question in cell biology.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100090
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
Three-dimensional cryo electron microscopy facility. The three-dimensional cryo-electron microscopy facility will let us visualise plants, pathogens and nanomachines with resolution not previously possible allowing us to see into cells and diseases with vastly more detail. Our world-class experts will provide regional and national researchers access to cutting-edge technology complementary to the Australian Synchrotron.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100794
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Revealing dynamic mechanisms controlling pluripotency in mammalian stem cells and embryos. Every cell of our mature bodies originates from 'pluripotent' cells present in the early mammalian embryo. These cells can be captured and grown in plastic dishes. The project will use imaging methods to reveal how gene regulatory molecules control pluripotent cells in the embryo and in culture.