Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100058
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Molecular reporters for measuring proteostasis capacity in cells. This project aims to develop fluorescent dyes to report on the change in unfolded protein load, which reflects the proteostasis status in real time in cells under stress conditions. Proteostasis is a housekeeping process cells undertake to maintain the proper folding and functions of proteins. Perturbation of proteostasis has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, but chemical probes cannot measure the proteostasis capacity in ....Molecular reporters for measuring proteostasis capacity in cells. This project aims to develop fluorescent dyes to report on the change in unfolded protein load, which reflects the proteostasis status in real time in cells under stress conditions. Proteostasis is a housekeeping process cells undertake to maintain the proper folding and functions of proteins. Perturbation of proteostasis has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases, but chemical probes cannot measure the proteostasis capacity in cells. Intended outcomes include a mechanistic understanding of the relationship between protein misfolding, aggregation and proteostasis. This is expected to ultimately benefit the diagnosis of protein folding diseases, including dementia, and improve the quality of life.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC210100040
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,997,903.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB). The Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB) will transform the rapidly growing bioactive ingredients sector. It will apply advanced analytical methods to molecular characterisation of bioactive products derived from foods, food-waste, and cell-based biotechnologies. FAAB will determine modes of action for bioactives with potential lifestyle and nutritional benefits allowing for evidence- ....ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB). The Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia's Bioactives (FAAB) will transform the rapidly growing bioactive ingredients sector. It will apply advanced analytical methods to molecular characterisation of bioactive products derived from foods, food-waste, and cell-based biotechnologies. FAAB will determine modes of action for bioactives with potential lifestyle and nutritional benefits allowing for evidence-informed decision-making, and regulatory framework development. FAAB graduates will lead and deliver future national self-reliance to the Australian bioactives sector, increasing diversification and international competitiveness and development of regulation in a growing market. Read moreRead less
Identification of Proteins that Regulate Apoptosis Through Interaction With IAPS. Apoptosis is the process by which multicellular organisms eliminate unwanted cells. Identifying proteins involved in cell death regulation is central to our understanding of disease states arising from aberrations in this process. The mammalian protein DIABLO, promotes cell death by interacting with and antagonising inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPS). Given the existence of several IAP regulatory proteins (IRPs ....Identification of Proteins that Regulate Apoptosis Through Interaction With IAPS. Apoptosis is the process by which multicellular organisms eliminate unwanted cells. Identifying proteins involved in cell death regulation is central to our understanding of disease states arising from aberrations in this process. The mammalian protein DIABLO, promotes cell death by interacting with and antagonising inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPS). Given the existence of several IAP regulatory proteins (IRPs) in insects, other mammalian IRPs probably also exist. These may be of equal importance in regulating apoptosis, especially in tissues where DIABLO is not expressed. The main aim of the proposed study is to idenitify and characterise other IRPs in mammalian cells.Read moreRead less
The cell wall substrate delivery mechanisms in plants. This project aims to study the delivery of substrates plants need to biosynthesise sugar polymers. Sugar polymers play key structural and functional roles in plant development and determine quality for all plant-based products including food, textile fibres, building materials and renewable biomass. However, unknown mechanisms regulate and control the transport mechanisms that deliver the building blocks for polysaccharide biosynthesis. This ....The cell wall substrate delivery mechanisms in plants. This project aims to study the delivery of substrates plants need to biosynthesise sugar polymers. Sugar polymers play key structural and functional roles in plant development and determine quality for all plant-based products including food, textile fibres, building materials and renewable biomass. However, unknown mechanisms regulate and control the transport mechanisms that deliver the building blocks for polysaccharide biosynthesis. This project is expected to increase understanding of nucleotide sugar transport and develop and enhance the biological toolbox for applications involving modelling and engineering of plants, synthesis of industrial biopolymers and production of functional foods.Read moreRead less
Regulation of proteolysis by specialised adaptor proteins. Training research scientists of the future forms an integral part of this research program and this collaboration will provide an excellent opportunity for young Australian scientists to be exposed to the very professional and competitive environment of basic research, as it exists in Germany. It will expose early career researchers to new ideas and emerging methodologies arming them with valuable skills, which they will transfer to Aust ....Regulation of proteolysis by specialised adaptor proteins. Training research scientists of the future forms an integral part of this research program and this collaboration will provide an excellent opportunity for young Australian scientists to be exposed to the very professional and competitive environment of basic research, as it exists in Germany. It will expose early career researchers to new ideas and emerging methodologies arming them with valuable skills, which they will transfer to Australia. The involvement of Prof. Turgay in the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) Priority Programme: Proteolysis in Prokaryotes also provides a unique opportunity for these young researchers to interact with several of the worlds leading scientists in the area of proteolysis, enhancing Australia's reputation at the forefront of science.Read moreRead less
Iron accumulation in the nematode C.elegans: a model of ageing. This project will investigate the role of biological metals in the process of ageing, the causes of which remain unresolved. The practical outcomes for society are broad; beyond improving understandings of the basic biology of ageing, this study will provide new insight and approaches that can be used to optimise lifespan.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100125
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,000.00
Summary
Oxidative stress bioanalytical facility. The primary national benefit of this application is that it will provide a currently unavailable, state-of-the-art facility for Australian scientists to define precisely how changes in cellular redox state contribute to biological processes relevant to health and diseases. The facility will uniquely complement, and in many cases integrate with existing facilities in this area of research in Australia. It will act as a platform for major national and inter ....Oxidative stress bioanalytical facility. The primary national benefit of this application is that it will provide a currently unavailable, state-of-the-art facility for Australian scientists to define precisely how changes in cellular redox state contribute to biological processes relevant to health and diseases. The facility will uniquely complement, and in many cases integrate with existing facilities in this area of research in Australia. It will act as a platform for major national and international research collaborations, develop cutting-edge technology and unique local skills, and contribute to Australia maintaining a leading position in redox-related research in biology and medicine. In doing so, the facility will increase the likelihood of gaining future, value-adding funding.Read moreRead less
Unravelling transthyretin amyloid, bounding ahead using wallabies. Each protein in our body has a unique shape that enables it to function correctly. For unknown reasons, some proteins can change their shape, aggregate with other proteins and stick to the outside of cells of major organs or nerves. This prevents those cells from working properly and results in disease. Transthyretin is a protein that changes shape and aggregates in the heart of most people over the age of 70. The disease is call ....Unravelling transthyretin amyloid, bounding ahead using wallabies. Each protein in our body has a unique shape that enables it to function correctly. For unknown reasons, some proteins can change their shape, aggregate with other proteins and stick to the outside of cells of major organs or nerves. This prevents those cells from working properly and results in disease. Transthyretin is a protein that changes shape and aggregates in the heart of most people over the age of 70. The disease is called Senile Systemic Amyloidosis (SSA). It is not known how or why this happens. There is no cure or therapy. This project will use transthyretins from human and wallaby to explore a possible cause of SSA. If our hypothesis is correct, we will propose preventative actions to reduce the incidence of SSA in the future.Read moreRead less
Multi-functional probes for global analysis of proteome stress in cells. This project aims to create a suite of multi-functional chemical probes to identify damaged proteins that undergo unfolding or specific modifications in cells under stress. These probes will not only generate fluorescence responses to reflect on protein quality control capacity but allow associated proteins and their networks to be identified in complex cellular environments, which is difficult to achieve by current methods ....Multi-functional probes for global analysis of proteome stress in cells. This project aims to create a suite of multi-functional chemical probes to identify damaged proteins that undergo unfolding or specific modifications in cells under stress. These probes will not only generate fluorescence responses to reflect on protein quality control capacity but allow associated proteins and their networks to be identified in complex cellular environments, which is difficult to achieve by current methods. The expected outcome is to deliver new methodology for a comprehensive understanding of the correlation between quality control machinery, stress responses and cell functions. This should provide significant benefits, including contributing to fundamental knowledge on the molecular causes of neurodegenerative diseases.Read moreRead less
Function and modulation of the protein quality control network in mammalian mitochondria. This project has potential technological benefit in the areas of biotechnology and molecular medicine especially in relation to age-related cellular degeneration. As a result of our research outputs, strategies could be developed to either delay the onset or reduce the severity of diseases related to mitochondrial dysfunction. Training research scientists of the future, forms an integral part of our researc ....Function and modulation of the protein quality control network in mammalian mitochondria. This project has potential technological benefit in the areas of biotechnology and molecular medicine especially in relation to age-related cellular degeneration. As a result of our research outputs, strategies could be developed to either delay the onset or reduce the severity of diseases related to mitochondrial dysfunction. Training research scientists of the future, forms an integral part of our research program and our association with world leaders in the field provide excellent opportunity for exchange of personnel, ideas and emerging methodologies. This project will lead the way in this field and consequently will expand Australia's reputation at the forefront of scientific advancement. Read moreRead less