Modulating the molecular and cellular physiology of ageing skeletal muscle. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of how ageing affects muscle is of increasing importance to the community as the number of older persons in the population continues to escalate and the age of retirement increases. Old muscles are slower and weaker than young muscles, and are more easily injured. This proposal is focussed on developing safe therapies to prevent or reverse these age-related effects. Making old musc ....Modulating the molecular and cellular physiology of ageing skeletal muscle. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of how ageing affects muscle is of increasing importance to the community as the number of older persons in the population continues to escalate and the age of retirement increases. Old muscles are slower and weaker than young muscles, and are more easily injured. This proposal is focussed on developing safe therapies to prevent or reverse these age-related effects. Making old muscles young again, is a research strategy that will promote healthy ageing and enable older Australians to enjoy a better quality of life.Read moreRead less
Involvement of cell coupling in vascular function: Development of a computational model. Gap junctions are intercellular channels which enable the production of coordinated responses in multicellular tissues and organs. Blood vessels are comprised of endothelial cells surrounded by smooth muscle cells and gap junctions exist within and between these layers. The present proposal will determine the fundamental role of gap junctions in regulating blood flow and blood pressure. Our data will enable ....Involvement of cell coupling in vascular function: Development of a computational model. Gap junctions are intercellular channels which enable the production of coordinated responses in multicellular tissues and organs. Blood vessels are comprised of endothelial cells surrounded by smooth muscle cells and gap junctions exist within and between these layers. The present proposal will determine the fundamental role of gap junctions in regulating blood flow and blood pressure. Our data will enable us to develop a computational model of the vascular wall and so predict how changes in electrical properties, as occur during pressure changes, can influence blood flow. Since ageing is accompanied by an increase in blood pressure, our results will contribute to a better understanding of blood flow regulation in our ageing population.Read moreRead less
Regulating calcium handling in skeletal muscle - implications for muscle contraction, injury and repair, ageing and development. Understanding the mechanisms regulating calcium in skeletal muscle has important relevance for studying muscle growth and development, injury and repair, and for identifying therapeutic targets and potential therapies for ageing-related disorders, reconstructive surgery, sporting and workplace injuries, and muscle diseases. Combining cell physiology, fluorescence micro ....Regulating calcium handling in skeletal muscle - implications for muscle contraction, injury and repair, ageing and development. Understanding the mechanisms regulating calcium in skeletal muscle has important relevance for studying muscle growth and development, injury and repair, and for identifying therapeutic targets and potential therapies for ageing-related disorders, reconstructive surgery, sporting and workplace injuries, and muscle diseases. Combining cell physiology, fluorescence microscopy and digital imaging technologies for studying multicellular tissues such as skeletal muscle will enhance the international competitiveness of Australian biological research. The research will optimise development of gene delivery systems that may find eventual application for muscle wasting disorders and conditions where muscle weakness compromises quality of life.Read moreRead less
Optimising Exercise and Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle. During the past decade the proportion of Australia's population aged 65 years and over has increased to 13% (2.7 million). During the same period, the proportion of the population aged 85 years and over has more than doubled and is now the fastest growing subpopulation in Australia. As the number of elderly persons continues to grow, sarcopenia-related conditions will have a dramatic and inevitable impact on the lives of all Australian ....Optimising Exercise and Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle. During the past decade the proportion of Australia's population aged 65 years and over has increased to 13% (2.7 million). During the same period, the proportion of the population aged 85 years and over has more than doubled and is now the fastest growing subpopulation in Australia. As the number of elderly persons continues to grow, sarcopenia-related conditions will have a dramatic and inevitable impact on the lives of all Australians. The novel dietary protocols developed from the results of the studies undertaken in this proposal will translate into better treatment options for reversing age-dependent muscle degeneration. This is a critical first step for improving the standard of living for a large portion of Australian society.Read moreRead less
Determinants of metabolic rate in animals. The metabolic rate of an animal represents its fundamental "cost of living" and varies dramatically (>100-fold) between different vertebrate species. We have proposed the "membrane pacemaker theory" to explain this variation and currently this is the only mechanistic explanation of metabolic variation between species. It has received significant international interest. A species metabolic rate and its maximum lifespan are connected but the precise mecha ....Determinants of metabolic rate in animals. The metabolic rate of an animal represents its fundamental "cost of living" and varies dramatically (>100-fold) between different vertebrate species. We have proposed the "membrane pacemaker theory" to explain this variation and currently this is the only mechanistic explanation of metabolic variation between species. It has received significant international interest. A species metabolic rate and its maximum lifespan are connected but the precise mechanistic link between them is unknown. We will investigate the mechanisms underlying the "membrane pacemaker theory" as an explanation of the metabolic rates of vertebrate species and its role in the determination of maximum lifespan.Read moreRead less
Investigation of the function of Sel S a novel selenoprotein. The long term aim of this project is to find a way to prevent or delay the onset of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. ChemGenex pharmaceuticals, our commercial partners have discovered and patented a selenoprotein with antioxidant properties and have shown in vitro that it protects insulin-producing beta cells from oxidative damage. This project aims to prove, in an in vivo setting, that this protein can prevent or delay the onset of d ....Investigation of the function of Sel S a novel selenoprotein. The long term aim of this project is to find a way to prevent or delay the onset of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. ChemGenex pharmaceuticals, our commercial partners have discovered and patented a selenoprotein with antioxidant properties and have shown in vitro that it protects insulin-producing beta cells from oxidative damage. This project aims to prove, in an in vivo setting, that this protein can prevent or delay the onset of diabetes in mouse models of type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.Read moreRead less
Transduction of neuronal signals by brain macroglial cells: implications for neuronal function. Study of mechanisms regulating brain cell (neuron and glial) communication is essential for understanding of normal brain function and transformations that occur in neurodegenerative states and age-related disorders. Mechanisms underlying neuron-glia communication are not well understood. By combining cell physiology, digital imaging technologies, and genetically designed and delivered molecules we w ....Transduction of neuronal signals by brain macroglial cells: implications for neuronal function. Study of mechanisms regulating brain cell (neuron and glial) communication is essential for understanding of normal brain function and transformations that occur in neurodegenerative states and age-related disorders. Mechanisms underlying neuron-glia communication are not well understood. By combining cell physiology, digital imaging technologies, and genetically designed and delivered molecules we will enhance our understanding of this brain cell communication and critical roles played by intracellular calcium. This will enhance international competitiveness of Australian biological research and provide novel insight of glial function in neurodegeneration and potential for specific therapeutic intervention in disease.Read moreRead less
A new model for secreton in epithelial cells. This proposal sets out to test a new model for secretion that we have developed in the light of recent experimental data. The project outcomes will advance our understanding of normal processes of secretion and may be important in understanding disease. We will develop cutting-edge techniques of microscopy which will place Australia at the forefront of this exciting field. The project will bring benefit to the Australian scientific community through ....A new model for secreton in epithelial cells. This proposal sets out to test a new model for secretion that we have developed in the light of recent experimental data. The project outcomes will advance our understanding of normal processes of secretion and may be important in understanding disease. We will develop cutting-edge techniques of microscopy which will place Australia at the forefront of this exciting field. The project will bring benefit to the Australian scientific community through interactions and collaborations with other scientists in Australia and internationally and will benefit early-career scientists, training them in novel methods and allowing them to develop their research expertise and profile and enabling them to compete on the world science stage. Read moreRead less
Of birds and bees: membrane lipids and the determination of maximum lifespan. The underlying mechanisms that determine why different animals have different maximum lifespans are unknown. Why do queen bees live for years but the genetically-identical workers bees live for only weeks? Similarly, to understand why birds live much longer than similar-sized mammals will give immense insight into the processes that cause ageing. Understanding the aging process in animals will have significant implicat ....Of birds and bees: membrane lipids and the determination of maximum lifespan. The underlying mechanisms that determine why different animals have different maximum lifespans are unknown. Why do queen bees live for years but the genetically-identical workers bees live for only weeks? Similarly, to understand why birds live much longer than similar-sized mammals will give immense insight into the processes that cause ageing. Understanding the aging process in animals will have significant implications for human health as the biggest risk factor for most diseases is age. Such understanding will help to cope with the worldwide problems of an aging population.Read moreRead less
Investigating the "membrane pacemaker" theory of aging. All animals age and die but the basis of the aging process is still not completely understood. Recent Australian research into the basis of the metabolism in different animals has suggested that the fatty acid composition of biological membranes may be the final part of the puzzle. Understanding why different species have such different lifespans will give profound insight into the aging process. Because it is such a fundamental biological ....Investigating the "membrane pacemaker" theory of aging. All animals age and die but the basis of the aging process is still not completely understood. Recent Australian research into the basis of the metabolism in different animals has suggested that the fatty acid composition of biological membranes may be the final part of the puzzle. Understanding why different species have such different lifespans will give profound insight into the aging process. Because it is such a fundamental biological process, understanding how aging occurs and what determines lifespan will have obvious benefits to understanding the basis of many aging-associated diseases. Understanding the role of dietary fats in influencing lifespan will also be of benefit to the community, both national and international. Read moreRead less