Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+)-raising Agents For Improving Oocyte Quality
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$445,827.00
Summary
Many women cannot have children because of suboptimal egg quality, often due to aging. Currently, the only option is to use better quality eggs donated from another woman. This project will use pharmacological agents to promote recently discovered pathways in eggs central to determining quality. Importantly, we will investigate a simple and practical approach that can be used in clinics for augmenting these pathways to improve oocyte quality for the first time.
The transcriptional co-repressor C-terminal Binding Protein (CtBP) in metabolic control. This project will provide insights into the genes that regulate the storage of fat. We will learn about basic biology but will also discover mechanisms that may be used to influence fat storage in human health. We will also consolidate Australia's expertise in the use of the genetic model organism, the worm C. elegans, and validate the findings in mammalian systems. Finally, the process of training young sci ....The transcriptional co-repressor C-terminal Binding Protein (CtBP) in metabolic control. This project will provide insights into the genes that regulate the storage of fat. We will learn about basic biology but will also discover mechanisms that may be used to influence fat storage in human health. We will also consolidate Australia's expertise in the use of the genetic model organism, the worm C. elegans, and validate the findings in mammalian systems. Finally, the process of training young scientists in these modern systems, will also equip future researchers to make additional contributions to Australia's research output.Read moreRead less
RNA splicing: factors and mechanisms. Most primary gene transcripts must have their noncoding intronic sequences spliced out before the mRNA can be translated. Moreover, alternative splicing enables cells to generate a far more proteins than there are genes in the nucleus. Based on our proven success with ZNF265 we will isolate novel RNA interactors and their partners, colocalize these in intranuclear compartments, and elucidate their effect on pre-mRNA splicing. This will provide timely spin-of ....RNA splicing: factors and mechanisms. Most primary gene transcripts must have their noncoding intronic sequences spliced out before the mRNA can be translated. Moreover, alternative splicing enables cells to generate a far more proteins than there are genes in the nucleus. Based on our proven success with ZNF265 we will isolate novel RNA interactors and their partners, colocalize these in intranuclear compartments, and elucidate their effect on pre-mRNA splicing. This will provide timely spin-offs to the Human genome Project and EST sequence information, where the finding of only approx. 30,000 genes in our genome highlights the important role of alternative splicing in generating the large proteome repertoire of cells. This will bring considerable benefits to science, society, and the biotech industry.Read moreRead less
A new mechanism of gene regulation. This project will advance our knowledge of how genes are switched on and off, by focusing on a very common class of gene regulatory proteins known as zinc finger proteins. The results of this study will improve our understanding of the fundamental molecular events that underpin gene regulation and how we might control it in fields such as biotechnology and gene therapy.
New mechanisms of DNA recognition by zinc-finger domains. The work described in this proposal carries long-term benefits to the health of Australians. Many debilitating diseases, including many varieties of cancer, arise as a result of a breakdown in the normal regulation of gene transcription. It is only once we have a thorough understanding of transcriptional regulation in normal organisms that we will be in a position to devise effective therapies to deal with the disorders that result from a ....New mechanisms of DNA recognition by zinc-finger domains. The work described in this proposal carries long-term benefits to the health of Australians. Many debilitating diseases, including many varieties of cancer, arise as a result of a breakdown in the normal regulation of gene transcription. It is only once we have a thorough understanding of transcriptional regulation in normal organisms that we will be in a position to devise effective therapies to deal with the disorders that result from aberrant gene expression. Our proposed research program also provides the opportunity to train younger scientists in state-of-the-art molecular and structural biology, thus representing a significant national benefit. Read moreRead less
Molecular mechanism of regulation of human renin mRNA. Genetic technologies and genomics research are an international priority likely to reap rich rewards intellectually and commercially. The shrinking of the once-touted gene number to a more modest level has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in the complexity in the protein products arising from each gene, and even more so the methods used by cells to control gene expression. By elucidating the latter for a key gene we will open up ....Molecular mechanism of regulation of human renin mRNA. Genetic technologies and genomics research are an international priority likely to reap rich rewards intellectually and commercially. The shrinking of the once-touted gene number to a more modest level has been accompanied by a corresponding increase in the complexity in the protein products arising from each gene, and even more so the methods used by cells to control gene expression. By elucidating the latter for a key gene we will open up new avenues for control of gene expression in various organisms. Devising novel means of chemically modulating stability of specific mRNA molecules will have beneficial implications for health, livestock production and agriculture.Read moreRead less
ARC Centre for Kangaroo Genome. In this Australian-led Kangaroo Genome Project, we will map and characterize the tammar wallaby genome at the molecular level. Marsupial genomes are uniquely valuable because they provide comparisons that reveal new human genes, regulatory sequences and marsupial-specific genes. These will deliver new products and information useful for medicine, industry, agriculture and conservation. We will construct integrated genetic and physical maps of the genome, clone the ....ARC Centre for Kangaroo Genome. In this Australian-led Kangaroo Genome Project, we will map and characterize the tammar wallaby genome at the molecular level. Marsupial genomes are uniquely valuable because they provide comparisons that reveal new human genes, regulatory sequences and marsupial-specific genes. These will deliver new products and information useful for medicine, industry, agriculture and conservation. We will construct integrated genetic and physical maps of the genome, clone the whole genome as large inserts in BAC vectors, and build a "golden path" with minimal overlap. We will construct libraries of expressed genes from tammar tissues and array them for use in analysing gene expression.Read moreRead less
Gene Expression Biomarkers Predict Severe Asthma Inflammatory Phenotype, Activation Mechanisms And Treatment Response
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$465,627.00
Summary
Asthma is now recognised to be made up of several disease variants or phenotypes, which are likely to have different underlying causes and mechanisms. We lack understanding of how to identify phenotypes of asthma and how they work, and this is delaying research that will lead to improvements in treatments and patient care. This is particularly important in people with severe disease. This grant will establish a gene test to identify asthma phenotype, and further understand mechanisms and treatme ....Asthma is now recognised to be made up of several disease variants or phenotypes, which are likely to have different underlying causes and mechanisms. We lack understanding of how to identify phenotypes of asthma and how they work, and this is delaying research that will lead to improvements in treatments and patient care. This is particularly important in people with severe disease. This grant will establish a gene test to identify asthma phenotype, and further understand mechanisms and treatment responses.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100114
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,000.00
Summary
High Throughput Cell Genomics Centre. High throughput cell genomics centre: This project will establish a high throughput cell genomics centre comprising a Fluidigm C1™ Single-Cell AutoPrep and BioMark™ HD system providing researchers with the most innovative approach to single cell and small population analyses. The instruments will enable the unique capability to conduct single cell transcriptome analysis and high throughput gene expression, SNP genotyping and copy number variation analysis as ....High Throughput Cell Genomics Centre. High throughput cell genomics centre: This project will establish a high throughput cell genomics centre comprising a Fluidigm C1™ Single-Cell AutoPrep and BioMark™ HD system providing researchers with the most innovative approach to single cell and small population analyses. The instruments will enable the unique capability to conduct single cell transcriptome analysis and high throughput gene expression, SNP genotyping and copy number variation analysis as well as validation of next generation sequencing data. The information generated is crucial to advancing knowledge in important research fields including infection and immunity, regenerative medicine, immune responses, biomarker discovery, drug discovery, biotechnology and agriculture.Read moreRead less
Understanding protein-nucleic-acid interaction networks in cold-adapted archaea. The aim of this project is to learn how microorganisms can function effectively in naturally cold environments. Results will determine how important cellular processes occur when microorganisms grow in the cold, and hence why they are able to maintain a natural balance in ecosystems such as Antarctica.