Macrophages are important cells at the front-line of immunity where one of their main roles is to release anti-bacterial proteins. We will study the macrophage molecules, subcellular organelles and pathways that help to release these proteins to kill bacteria and fight infection. Our studies will identify new cellular targets for boosting immunity and treating inherited diseases with defective macrophage function.
The Preferential Release Of Young Insulin Secretory Granules.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$670,005.00
Summary
The aim of this study is to investigate the cause of reduced glucose induced insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes. In pancreatic beta-cells, insulin is packaged and stored in secretory granules (SGs). Upon stimulation, these SGs deliver insulin to the bloodstream. It is known that insulin SGs exist in two functionally distinct pools; and one pool is preferentially secreted upon stimulation. How a cell can differentiate the two SG pools is unclear, and we will address this issue in this project.
Sorting Out The Synapse: The Role Of Intracellular Trafficking In NMDA Receptor Homeostasis
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,966.00
Summary
When the normal levels of cell surface proteins in neurons are reduced this can lead to a variety of debilitating neurodegenerative and neuronal diseases. These levels are maintained by organelles inside the neuron called endosomes. In this project we will examine how cell surface receptors required for synapse formation are transported through endosomes by a protein machine called retromer, which is important in both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Understanding the basic biology of cells will allow us to pinpoint key mechanisms and molecules that underpin multiple diseases and are targets for treatments. The broad aims of this research program include the development of new therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases, understanding how proteins are sorted and trafficked inside cells in processes that are essential to immunity and cancer biology, and identifying new intracellular targets to block bacterial invasion and infectious diseases.