Functional characterisation of neurons derived from embryonic stem cells and NS cells. The ability to obtain specific neurons from NS cells will revolutionise the study of nerve function, will allow the establishment of much-improved models for discovery of new drugs, and will define how enriched populations of neural cells can be obtained for applications in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The project will provide vital data for the emerging biotechnology industry associated will appl ....Functional characterisation of neurons derived from embryonic stem cells and NS cells. The ability to obtain specific neurons from NS cells will revolutionise the study of nerve function, will allow the establishment of much-improved models for discovery of new drugs, and will define how enriched populations of neural cells can be obtained for applications in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The project will provide vital data for the emerging biotechnology industry associated will applications of stem cell biology, and will stimulate clinical researchers to investigate the therapeutic potential of cell derived from NS cells.Read moreRead less
Genetic selection of artificial polyketides. This project aims to harness the potential of synthetic biology to build cells that can make valuable new derivatives of polyketides. Polyketides are natural products that have proven to be highly effective for use in industry, medicine and agriculture. The technologies developed in this project will provide resources to discover new chemicals, accessible to almost any scientific laboratory. Expected outcomes include the opportunity to put the future ....Genetic selection of artificial polyketides. This project aims to harness the potential of synthetic biology to build cells that can make valuable new derivatives of polyketides. Polyketides are natural products that have proven to be highly effective for use in industry, medicine and agriculture. The technologies developed in this project will provide resources to discover new chemicals, accessible to almost any scientific laboratory. Expected outcomes include the opportunity to put the future of natural product discovery and optimisation in the hands of the wider scientific community, which will provide significant benefits, such as providing new tools for Australian industries.Read moreRead less
A genomic and phenomic investigation of a mitochondrial glutathione transferase. The aim of this study is to understand of the genomics, structure and function of glutathione transferase Kappa (GSTK), a novel GST found in mitochondria. The investigations will achieve several outcomes. (1)an understanding of the organisation of GSTK gene(s) in humans and mice; (2) determination of the role of GSTK in mitochondria, by investigating the phenotype of knockout mice; (3) determination of the crysta ....A genomic and phenomic investigation of a mitochondrial glutathione transferase. The aim of this study is to understand of the genomics, structure and function of glutathione transferase Kappa (GSTK), a novel GST found in mitochondria. The investigations will achieve several outcomes. (1)an understanding of the organisation of GSTK gene(s) in humans and mice; (2) determination of the role of GSTK in mitochondria, by investigating the phenotype of knockout mice; (3) determination of the crystal structure of human GSTK; (4) An understanding of GSTK's substrate specificity, reaction kinetics and structure/function relationships. Since GSTK is confined to mitochondria, and may not be related to other GSTs, we may also identify novel functionsRead moreRead less
Unleashing the Hidden Chemical Diversity in Australian Fungi. This project aims to exploit an exclusive genomic resource consisting of >150 unique Australian filamentous fungi that has been built in a university-industry collaboration for genomic-guided biodiscovery. The genome sequence of these fungi revealed extensive hidden genetic instructions for production of novel biologically active molecules. The project will apply cutting-edge synthetic biology and chemical tools to tap into the hidden ....Unleashing the Hidden Chemical Diversity in Australian Fungi. This project aims to exploit an exclusive genomic resource consisting of >150 unique Australian filamentous fungi that has been built in a university-industry collaboration for genomic-guided biodiscovery. The genome sequence of these fungi revealed extensive hidden genetic instructions for production of novel biologically active molecules. The project will apply cutting-edge synthetic biology and chemical tools to tap into the hidden genomic potential of these Australian fungi. Expected outcomes of this project include new fine chemicals and lead molecules with desirable bioactivies. This will provide significant benefits to Australia's economy through the discovery of new pharmaceuticals, veterinary products and agrichemicals.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL160100170
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,887,531.00
Summary
Scaling in biology: size control at the cell, organelle and organism level. This project aims to decipher the universal mechanisms that coordinate growth with division and thereby dictate the size of the cell. It would investigate this question from the triangulating perspective of evolution using yeast and animal models. It plans to interrogate the complex sub-networks that govern cell size using novel genome-scale reagent sets for systematic genetics and other approaches. It would integrate th ....Scaling in biology: size control at the cell, organelle and organism level. This project aims to decipher the universal mechanisms that coordinate growth with division and thereby dictate the size of the cell. It would investigate this question from the triangulating perspective of evolution using yeast and animal models. It plans to interrogate the complex sub-networks that govern cell size using novel genome-scale reagent sets for systematic genetics and other approaches. It would integrate this data in predictive mathematical models of size control that illuminate how the cell processes size-related information, and how size mechanisms evolve to impact form and function in biology. This research is expected to have commercial applications in biotechnology processes and bioengineering.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL170100019
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,606,250.00
Summary
Proteins in motion - new tools for biotechnology. This project aims to assess the function of proteins by monitoring their motions using new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques. As snapshots of 3D protein structures have been determined by crystallography, the new tools are designed to analyse functionally important motions in solution. A facility for ultrafast (> 100 kHz) magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy of proteins in the semi-solid state will bring cutting-edge know- ....Proteins in motion - new tools for biotechnology. This project aims to assess the function of proteins by monitoring their motions using new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques. As snapshots of 3D protein structures have been determined by crystallography, the new tools are designed to analyse functionally important motions in solution. A facility for ultrafast (> 100 kHz) magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy of proteins in the semi-solid state will bring cutting-edge know-how to Australia and allow the interrogation of 3D structure and dynamics in selected protein regions. The expected outcomes of the project will have immediate benefits for the rational engineering of biocatalysts and in the design of lead compounds in drug development.Read moreRead less
Blood component interactions with polysaccharide biomaterials for vascular applications. Heart disease is the major killer of people in Australia and the Western world. It is due mainly to the blockage of vessels supplying the muscle of the heart with blood and nutrients, which can be replaced or by-passed but the supply of native vessels in the body is limited. Tissue engineering laboratories have been trying to develop blood vessels for this use for many years without significant success. T ....Blood component interactions with polysaccharide biomaterials for vascular applications. Heart disease is the major killer of people in Australia and the Western world. It is due mainly to the blockage of vessels supplying the muscle of the heart with blood and nutrients, which can be replaced or by-passed but the supply of native vessels in the body is limited. Tissue engineering laboratories have been trying to develop blood vessels for this use for many years without significant success. This application plans to understand the molecular signals contained within the sugar sequences used in a commonly used biomaterial chitosan that may be used in the construction of synthetic vascular grafts. If we can understand how blood cells interact with this biomaterial, we may be able to develop a blood vessel in the laboratory.Read moreRead less
Novel antimicrobial target discovery by an integrated approach. The project aims to uncover the molecular targets of BDM-I, a novel antimicrobial candidate discovered by the start-up Australian company BioDiem Ltd. BDM-I is active against many drug resistant bacterial and fungal microorganisms and it is currently in pre-clinical development. However, the lack of resistant phenotypes makes it difficult to identify BDM-I’s mechanism of action. The project plans to use an integrated approach that c ....Novel antimicrobial target discovery by an integrated approach. The project aims to uncover the molecular targets of BDM-I, a novel antimicrobial candidate discovered by the start-up Australian company BioDiem Ltd. BDM-I is active against many drug resistant bacterial and fungal microorganisms and it is currently in pre-clinical development. However, the lack of resistant phenotypes makes it difficult to identify BDM-I’s mechanism of action. The project plans to use an integrated approach that combines a novel technique of in silico screening with experimental validation. Project outcomes are anticipated to include the first computational method to integrate target and ligand similarity for proteome-scale target and off-target discovery, which will advance the global fight against drug-resistant microorganisms.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE200100183
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$950,000.00
Summary
Protein Quantitation Centre of South Australia renewal for Systems Biology. This application aims to renew Mass Spectrometry (MS) instrumentation to characterise and quantify Biomolecules towards a better understanding of biological processes. UniSA, Uni Adelaide, Flinders have established the Protein Quantitation Centre of South Australia (PQCSA) in 2013 through an ARC LIEF lead by CI Hoffmann and this application will renew and expand MS capacity towards metabolites, glycans and lipids. This ....Protein Quantitation Centre of South Australia renewal for Systems Biology. This application aims to renew Mass Spectrometry (MS) instrumentation to characterise and quantify Biomolecules towards a better understanding of biological processes. UniSA, Uni Adelaide, Flinders have established the Protein Quantitation Centre of South Australia (PQCSA) in 2013 through an ARC LIEF lead by CI Hoffmann and this application will renew and expand MS capacity towards metabolites, glycans and lipids. This will enable researchers in South Australia to work towards a full understanding of biological processes and towards expanding their knowledge to Systems Biology. Expected outcome of the projects are multiple interdisciplinary collaborations between the CI's and should provide significant benefits in research outputs.Read moreRead less