Understanding how cells regulate self eating during starvation and stress. This project aims to investigate how autophagosomes are built during autophagy by using advanced multi-modal imaging and unique gene-edited human cell lines. This project expects to generate new knowledge on how a family of evolutionary conserved proteins regulate autophagosome formation during starvation and stress conditions. Expected outcomes include the development of frontier imaging technologies that can be subseque ....Understanding how cells regulate self eating during starvation and stress. This project aims to investigate how autophagosomes are built during autophagy by using advanced multi-modal imaging and unique gene-edited human cell lines. This project expects to generate new knowledge on how a family of evolutionary conserved proteins regulate autophagosome formation during starvation and stress conditions. Expected outcomes include the development of frontier imaging technologies that can be subsequently utilised for the advancement of any field of cell biology. This should provide significant benefits by placing Australia at the forefront of cell biology technologies and increasing our understanding of how plant and human cells can protect themselves during starvation and stress.
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Regulation of glutamate receptor dynamics in mammalian central neurons. This proposal aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and how neurons modify their synaptic strength. Although these processes are essential for normal brain function, the precise underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. This project will combine biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays, as well as electrophysiological measurements, to provide mechanistic insights into the m ....Regulation of glutamate receptor dynamics in mammalian central neurons. This proposal aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and how neurons modify their synaptic strength. Although these processes are essential for normal brain function, the precise underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. This project will combine biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays, as well as electrophysiological measurements, to provide mechanistic insights into the molecular processes that control glutamate receptor trafficking in the postsynaptic compartment. This will elucidate how neural plasticity is generated and maintained, information that is critical for our understanding of sensory processing, learning and memory throughout life.Read moreRead less
Regulation of activity-induced glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. Neurons communicate via synapses, where chemicals (such as glutamate) are released to transmit neuronal signals. This proposal is aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and adaptive plasticity, which are essential for normal brain function. The proposed research will combine biophysical, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to elucidate the role of a calcium binding protein i ....Regulation of activity-induced glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. Neurons communicate via synapses, where chemicals (such as glutamate) are released to transmit neuronal signals. This proposal is aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and adaptive plasticity, which are essential for normal brain function. The proposed research will combine biophysical, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to elucidate the role of a calcium binding protein in controlling glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. The outcomes will enhance our understanding of how neural plasticity is generated and maintained, knowledge that is critical for our understanding of cellular correlates of information, sensory and motor processing, as well as learning, memory and cognition. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100546
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Activity-dependent regulation of glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. This proposal aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and how neurons modify their synaptic strength. Although these processes are essential for normal brain function, the precise underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This project will use structural, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to study the molecular processes that control glutamate receptor trafficking in the ....Activity-dependent regulation of glutamate receptor trafficking in neurons. This proposal aims to understand the molecular mechanisms of neuronal communication and how neurons modify their synaptic strength. Although these processes are essential for normal brain function, the precise underlying mechanisms are not well understood. This project will use structural, biochemical, molecular and cell biological assays to study the molecular processes that control glutamate receptor trafficking in the postsynaptic compartment. It will elucidate how neural plasticity is generated and maintained, information critical for understanding sensory processing, learning and memory throughout life. The findings could identify cellular targets for interventions to enhance cognitive performance and maintain optimal brain function.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
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.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE100100078
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$600,000.00
Summary
Multiphoton confocal microscope. Recent developments in light microscopy have revolutionised modern molecular and cellular biology. Dramatic improvements in microscope hardware and software and in the range of fluorescent markers used to tag selected cellular components now provide new and exciting opportunities to localise and determine the function of ions and molecules not only in preserved samples but also, most excitingly, in living cells. The proposed multiphoton confocal microscope will ....Multiphoton confocal microscope. Recent developments in light microscopy have revolutionised modern molecular and cellular biology. Dramatic improvements in microscope hardware and software and in the range of fluorescent markers used to tag selected cellular components now provide new and exciting opportunities to localise and determine the function of ions and molecules not only in preserved samples but also, most excitingly, in living cells. The proposed multiphoton confocal microscope will allow researchers in Canberra to obtain high quality images of static and moving components in living cells and tissues and will facilitate the discovery of new knowledge that contributes to our understanding and control of development and disease in both plants and animals.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100202
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$255,120.00
Summary
Three-dimensional cryo correlative light and electron microscopy facility. This project aims to establish a three-dimensional (3D) cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy facility. The facility will integrate light microscopy with high resolution cryo-electron tomography and 3D slice-and-view focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy. The open access facility should create new capabilities for Australian researchers to tag biological events and structures with fluorescence markers and ....Three-dimensional cryo correlative light and electron microscopy facility. This project aims to establish a three-dimensional (3D) cryo-correlative light and electron microscopy facility. The facility will integrate light microscopy with high resolution cryo-electron tomography and 3D slice-and-view focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy. The open access facility should create new capabilities for Australian researchers to tag biological events and structures with fluorescence markers and image them using the currently highest resolution 3D imaging techniques for biological matter. The facility expects to reveal fundamental insights into cell and structural biology, and help drive innovation in agriculture, pharmaceutics, and biomaterials.Read moreRead less
A tale of two genomes: integrating mitochondrial biogenesis into the cell cycle and metabolic control. The human genome is cordoned into two distinct compartments in our cells. Most genes are in the nucleus, while a distinct set of genes are held within our mitochondria. Using yeast as a model organism, this project will provide a holistic view of how expression of the two genomes is coordinated.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100293
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,000.00
Summary
Cracking the phosphoinositide code. This project seeks to determine how protein interactions with membrane lipids regulate recruitment to cellular organelles, providing new insight into the complex pathways of cellular homeostasis. Controlling the distribution of proteins within cells is critical for cell signalling and membrane trafficking. This is orchestrated by the interaction of specific protein modules with lipids on the surface of different organelles. The phox homology (PX) domain is a l ....Cracking the phosphoinositide code. This project seeks to determine how protein interactions with membrane lipids regulate recruitment to cellular organelles, providing new insight into the complex pathways of cellular homeostasis. Controlling the distribution of proteins within cells is critical for cell signalling and membrane trafficking. This is orchestrated by the interaction of specific protein modules with lipids on the surface of different organelles. The phox homology (PX) domain is a lipid-binding module found in numerous proteins essential for normal cell trafficking and homeostasis, and perturbed in many conditions including immune dysfunction and cancer. This project plans to investigate molecular determinants of PX-lipid association, generating knowledge about protein-membrane interactions required for cellular function. These insights may underpin future drug design.Read moreRead less