Characterisation of a powerful molecular motor, the FtsK DNA translocase. The FtsK protein is a fast and powerful molecular motor, a pump that can, and does, move an entire bacterial chromosome. This project will uncover the detail of the mechanism used by this motor to convert the cell's chemical energy source Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) into movement of DNA; revealing the molecular detail of a fast and powerful motor.
In vivo studies on the regulation of transcription and translation in Bacillus subtilis. Genetic information from a chromosome made of DNA is converted (transcription) into RNA that is then converted (translation) into protein. Transcription and translation are both highly regulated processes, and in bacteria are thought to occur very close together. Recent evidence suggests this close coupling is not as extensive as thought. This project will continue work to investigate the composition of tran ....In vivo studies on the regulation of transcription and translation in Bacillus subtilis. Genetic information from a chromosome made of DNA is converted (transcription) into RNA that is then converted (translation) into protein. Transcription and translation are both highly regulated processes, and in bacteria are thought to occur very close together. Recent evidence suggests this close coupling is not as extensive as thought. This project will continue work to investigate the composition of transcription complexes involved in production of different types of RNA, and also to investigate the level of translational coupling in live cells. This will provide useful information on these fundamental processes.Read moreRead less
How do cells regulate redox environment at the subcellular level? Most organisms live in an aerobic environment that subjects their cells to reactive oxygen species. Reactive oxygen species have been proposed to lead to ageing, and in many diseases the balance between oxidising and reducing conditions (the redox environment) is perturbed. This research will identify how different cellular structures sense and maintain this redox homeostasis, not just in the whole cell, but within the different ....How do cells regulate redox environment at the subcellular level? Most organisms live in an aerobic environment that subjects their cells to reactive oxygen species. Reactive oxygen species have been proposed to lead to ageing, and in many diseases the balance between oxidising and reducing conditions (the redox environment) is perturbed. This research will identify how different cellular structures sense and maintain this redox homeostasis, not just in the whole cell, but within the different organelles in the cell. The work will help identify which cell compartments and processes are affected in different disease states and provide a fundamental understanding of how cells coordinate their different organelles to maintain the balance between oxidising and reducing conditions.Read moreRead less
New Proteins from the Mobile Genome: Structure-Led Discovery. The project will provide full descriptions of proteins with the capacity to become mobilised, as well as providing a source of completely novel genes with commercial potential. The proteins and enzymes discovered, and the metabolic processes with which they are identified, will have applications in a wide range of Australian industries: agriculture, forestry, pollution control and pharmaceutical design. This work therefore offers op ....New Proteins from the Mobile Genome: Structure-Led Discovery. The project will provide full descriptions of proteins with the capacity to become mobilised, as well as providing a source of completely novel genes with commercial potential. The proteins and enzymes discovered, and the metabolic processes with which they are identified, will have applications in a wide range of Australian industries: agriculture, forestry, pollution control and pharmaceutical design. This work therefore offers opportunities for many future directions in biotechnology, an area of growing strength in Australia. Read moreRead less
Cellular Gene Regulation Networks. The benefit to Australia will be scientific in terms of providing an understanding of how cells integrate transcriptional control systems and the networks that are involved. This will inform research on folate deficiency and aberrant human development and towards identifying genes that are important in improving efficiency of microbial fermentations. Additional and more practical major benefits will follow from the development of tools to analyse interaction ....Cellular Gene Regulation Networks. The benefit to Australia will be scientific in terms of providing an understanding of how cells integrate transcriptional control systems and the networks that are involved. This will inform research on folate deficiency and aberrant human development and towards identifying genes that are important in improving efficiency of microbial fermentations. Additional and more practical major benefits will follow from the development of tools to analyse interactions between control systems, including software of value to the research community. The work will provide postgraduate students with major training in up-to-date genomic technologies, and in the interface between application of bioinformatics and experimental science.
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THE BIOLOGY OF COLD ADAPTED EXTREMOPHILES: AN INTEGRATED GENOMIC-PROTEIN ANALYSIS APPROACH. Extremophiles are microorganisms that can thrive in otherwise inhospitable environments. Most extremophiles are Archaea; an order of life separate from Bacteria and Eucaryotes. The project will generate the first genome sequence that was initiated in Australia, and the first genome sequence of any cold adapted organism. Associated functional studies include global analyses of protein expression (proteo ....THE BIOLOGY OF COLD ADAPTED EXTREMOPHILES: AN INTEGRATED GENOMIC-PROTEIN ANALYSIS APPROACH. Extremophiles are microorganisms that can thrive in otherwise inhospitable environments. Most extremophiles are Archaea; an order of life separate from Bacteria and Eucaryotes. The project will generate the first genome sequence that was initiated in Australia, and the first genome sequence of any cold adapted organism. Associated functional studies include global analyses of protein expression (proteomics) and mRNA expression using micro-arrays, and work targeted at RNA binding proteins and protein folding systems involved in the thermally sensitive process of protein synthesis. The nature and scope of the work will impact on fundamental cellular processes and provide enormous innovative biotechnological potential.Read moreRead less
Commensal benefits: genomic basis for suppressing plant pathogens with Pseudomonas biocontrol species. Food security is an issue of mounting significance due to unpredictable climate trends and increasing global population growth. A feature of paramount importance to reliable crop production is the capacity to control plant diseases. This project investigates natural plant colonising bacteria as a tool for protecting plants from disease.
The role of redox balance and reactive oxygen species in beer stability using an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis. A better understanding of yeast redox balance will enable it to be used to predict fermentation outcomes and to link raw materials and processes to the quality of the final product. These data will produce economies in the brewing industry by the introduction of quality control regimes for raw materials and can be extrapolated to the wine industry. This will prov ....The role of redox balance and reactive oxygen species in beer stability using an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis. A better understanding of yeast redox balance will enable it to be used to predict fermentation outcomes and to link raw materials and processes to the quality of the final product. These data will produce economies in the brewing industry by the introduction of quality control regimes for raw materials and can be extrapolated to the wine industry. This will provide real economic advantage to Carlton and United Breweries which is an Australian company that has an international profile within a highly competitive industry.Read moreRead less
Application of functional genomics to study early fermentation parameters and flavour development in industrial fermentations. The aim of this research is to use genome-wide analyses to identify yeast genes involved in flavour compound production in order to manipulate the flavour profiles of industrial fermentations. This will identify those metabolic pathways and cellular processes that are important in the maintenance of flavour production during fermentation and give extensive insight into t ....Application of functional genomics to study early fermentation parameters and flavour development in industrial fermentations. The aim of this research is to use genome-wide analyses to identify yeast genes involved in flavour compound production in order to manipulate the flavour profiles of industrial fermentations. This will identify those metabolic pathways and cellular processes that are important in the maintenance of flavour production during fermentation and give extensive insight into the way metabolism changes during the fermentation process. Flavour is a major component of the product of fermented beverages and its development and maintenance in the finished product is of primary concern to the brewing and wine industries. This research will lead to a more competitive Australian-owned company with a major stake in the beer and wine industry.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre of Excellence - Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics. The research falls under the National Research Priority Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, with the priority goal of frontier technologies. The research has commercial applications, such as the development of novel antimicrobials and vaccines, with potentially enormous impact in the biotechnology area of biomedical health and the primary industries. In addition, the project will use ....ARC Centre of Excellence - Structural and Functional Microbial Genomics. The research falls under the National Research Priority Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, with the priority goal of frontier technologies. The research has commercial applications, such as the development of novel antimicrobials and vaccines, with potentially enormous impact in the biotechnology area of biomedical health and the primary industries. In addition, the project will use state-of-the-art technology, including use of synchrotron radiation at the Monash-based Australian Synchrotron facility from 2007.Read moreRead less