Mechanisms By Which Chromatin Modulates Gene Expression.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$267,750.00
Summary
Gene expression in a cell occurs in the nucleus where genes are stored. In the nucleus, DNA is not in a free form but is covered with an equivalent weight of protein to form a structure known as chromatin. Chromatin is a periodic structure made up of repeating, regularly spaced subunits, the subunit being the nucleosome. A nucleosome consists of a group of proteins (histones) wrapped around with DNA. A nucleosome is both capable of blocking and activating gene expression. Therefore one important ....Gene expression in a cell occurs in the nucleus where genes are stored. In the nucleus, DNA is not in a free form but is covered with an equivalent weight of protein to form a structure known as chromatin. Chromatin is a periodic structure made up of repeating, regularly spaced subunits, the subunit being the nucleosome. A nucleosome consists of a group of proteins (histones) wrapped around with DNA. A nucleosome is both capable of blocking and activating gene expression. Therefore one important function of chromatin is to tightly regulate gene expression which is essential to allow an organism to develop properly. When gene expression is not accurately controlled by chromatin developmental defects or cancer can result from the production of incorrect proteins. To control correct gene expression, highly specific mechanisms must operate in the cell to remove, or modify, nucleosomes at certain genes at a precise time during development. One mechanism that we believe to be important is changing the make-up of a nucleosome. This can be achieved in the cell by the replacement of histones with different specialized forms of these histones (variants). We believe that these histone variants can specifically generate chromosomal domains which could in some cases expose or in other cases hide certain genes and thereby turn them on or off. Employing a new approach, we will study one of these histone variants to discover the role it plays in determining the type of chromosomal domain made and the role of this domain has in turning genes on or off at precise times in early development during the formation of different specialized cell types. This new information may define targets for the prevention of incorrect gene expression during cancer progression or abnormal development.Read moreRead less
Enhancing The Immune Response To Disordered Malaria Antigens
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$643,739.00
Summary
Half of the worlds population live at risk of malaria, and the disease kills half a million people a year, predominantly young children. Despite recent progress, a vaccine with the efficacy required to help control and ultimately eradicate malaria remains out of reach. This project studies an important class of proteins likely to form part of a future malaria vaccine, and will develop new ways to improve their effectiveness as vaccine components.
Peptides (mini proteins) have outstanding potential as new drugs for cancer, pain and many other diseases, but their potential has not been realised so far because peptides tend to be unstable in the body. I have discovered a new class of peptides that are ultra-stable and have very favourable pharmaceutical properties. I will use these peptides to develop a new generation of drugs that are more potent and with fewer side effects than traditional drugs.
Structure, Transport And Assembly Of PorB, A Key Invasion Molecule Of Meningococcal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$292,639.00
Summary
When the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease invade cells, they use specialized cell surface pore proteins to hijack the human cell and maintain infection. This research will study the structure of these bacterial pore proteins to help understand how they function to subvert normal cellular processes, and this insight will be important in the development of new treatments for meningococcal disease.