Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0347955
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
A Cell Sorter Facility for Neuroscience and Related Biotechnology. Neuroscience is entering an era of accelerated discovery in which Queensland neuroscientists can excel if they gain leadership in key technologies. One critical technology is the ability to obtain specific cell populations from various parts of the nervous system in sufficient quantity and purity to enable their accurate examination by gene array, proteomics and physiological techniques. The aim is to establish the world's first ....A Cell Sorter Facility for Neuroscience and Related Biotechnology. Neuroscience is entering an era of accelerated discovery in which Queensland neuroscientists can excel if they gain leadership in key technologies. One critical technology is the ability to obtain specific cell populations from various parts of the nervous system in sufficient quantity and purity to enable their accurate examination by gene array, proteomics and physiological techniques. The aim is to establish the world's first cell-sorting facility dedicated to the production of nerve cells suitable for molecular characterization and screening, providing the basis for identifying key molecules regulating brain function, ageing and repair of great importance to the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry.Read moreRead less
Signalling cross-talk through Suppressors Of Cytokine Signalling (SOCS) initiates luteolysis in the ovary. Members of the newly discovered SOCS protein family block cytokine signal transduction pathways, including those for prolactin and GH. We have discovered that one of these proteins, SOCS-3, is upregulated in the corpus luteum of the ovary by prostaglandins and propose that induction of prolactin or GH resistance is a hitherto unrecognised and critical step in luteolysis. We have also disco ....Signalling cross-talk through Suppressors Of Cytokine Signalling (SOCS) initiates luteolysis in the ovary. Members of the newly discovered SOCS protein family block cytokine signal transduction pathways, including those for prolactin and GH. We have discovered that one of these proteins, SOCS-3, is upregulated in the corpus luteum of the ovary by prostaglandins and propose that induction of prolactin or GH resistance is a hitherto unrecognised and critical step in luteolysis. We have also discovered that this cross-talk between prostaglandin- and cytokine-receptor signalling pathways occurs in preadipocyte and breast cell lines and propose that this research will serve as a paradigm for understanding how sensitivity to cytokines can be controlled at a molecular level.Read moreRead less
The molecular basis of macropinocytosis in mammalian cells: the composition of endosome proteins and their function. Individual cells communicate with their immediate environment by the process of macropinocytosis, a process that involves the exchange of materials between the extracellular space and a specialised region of the cell termed endosomes. It is an important process in mammalian cells being essential to the correct functioning of many tissues. This project will advance understanding of ....The molecular basis of macropinocytosis in mammalian cells: the composition of endosome proteins and their function. Individual cells communicate with their immediate environment by the process of macropinocytosis, a process that involves the exchange of materials between the extracellular space and a specialised region of the cell termed endosomes. It is an important process in mammalian cells being essential to the correct functioning of many tissues. This project will advance understanding of macropinocytosis at a molecular level. The project is relevant to understanding the functioning of normal cells and the means by which some pathogens can enter cells and also understanding processes involved in tumour progression and metastasis.Read moreRead less
Membrane Proteins within the Mouse Transcriptome- Annotation of their Organisation and Subcellular Localisation. A major issue in cell biology today is how distinct regions of the cell maintain their unique composition of proteins. The aim of this grant is to identify membrane proteins within the mouse genome and annotate their localisation within the cell. Our multi-discipline effort will combine extensive computational prediction strategies with focused cellular biology experimental determinat ....Membrane Proteins within the Mouse Transcriptome- Annotation of their Organisation and Subcellular Localisation. A major issue in cell biology today is how distinct regions of the cell maintain their unique composition of proteins. The aim of this grant is to identify membrane proteins within the mouse genome and annotate their localisation within the cell. Our multi-discipline effort will combine extensive computational prediction strategies with focused cellular biology experimental determination. The underpinning experimental technology, termed reverse transfection arrays, allows for high-throughput assessment of cellular phenotype properties for individual proteins.Read moreRead less
The MYB gene as a model for global transcriptional regulation: stopping, starting and looping. This project will study how transcriptional elongation controls the MYB gene, a key regulator of normal and cancerous growth and regulation. There are three major benefits that are likely to flow from the proposed research It will strengthen research in new and important areas of transcriptional regulation, by building research capacity in Australia in the area of gene expression, particularly with res ....The MYB gene as a model for global transcriptional regulation: stopping, starting and looping. This project will study how transcriptional elongation controls the MYB gene, a key regulator of normal and cancerous growth and regulation. There are three major benefits that are likely to flow from the proposed research It will strengthen research in new and important areas of transcriptional regulation, by building research capacity in Australia in the area of gene expression, particularly with respect to transcriptional elongation and long-range regulation. It will highlight a new approach to the therapeutic targeting of MYB in cancer: data generated from this research may enable us to target MYB expression in a range of cancers including breast cancer by inhibiting transcriptional elongation. And it will provide training in advanced molecular biology to postdoctoral scientists and students.Read moreRead less
The protein import machinery of peroxisomes. The peroxisome is a subcellular organelle essential for cellular metabolism. Our understanding of the formation, or biogenesis, of the peroxisome has advanced to the stage where many of the proteins involved in this process have been identified. What is less clear is how these proteins interact to form functional macromolecular complexes in the cell. In this project we will use biochemical approaches to isolate protein complexes involved in peroxisome ....The protein import machinery of peroxisomes. The peroxisome is a subcellular organelle essential for cellular metabolism. Our understanding of the formation, or biogenesis, of the peroxisome has advanced to the stage where many of the proteins involved in this process have been identified. What is less clear is how these proteins interact to form functional macromolecular complexes in the cell. In this project we will use biochemical approaches to isolate protein complexes involved in peroxisome biogenesis. These studies will help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of peroxisome biogenesis and contribute to an understanding of organelle biogenesis generally.Read moreRead less
The molecular mechanism of retromer and sorting nexin function in endosomal membrane trafficking. The proposed research represents breakthrough science that will lead to a fundamental understanding at the molecular level of the structure and assembly of the retromer complex and how it regulates sorting of receptors in the endosomal system. It will provide excellent research training for top graduate students and post-doctoral scientists in multidisciplinary methods that constitute state-of the- ....The molecular mechanism of retromer and sorting nexin function in endosomal membrane trafficking. The proposed research represents breakthrough science that will lead to a fundamental understanding at the molecular level of the structure and assembly of the retromer complex and how it regulates sorting of receptors in the endosomal system. It will provide excellent research training for top graduate students and post-doctoral scientists in multidisciplinary methods that constitute state-of the-art structural and molecular cell biology research. By addressing an area of great interest internationally the project will have the capacity to increase Australia's knowledge base and strengthen it's reputation for research excellence.Read moreRead less
Structural analysis of membrane proteins using template-mediated crystallization. A new frontier technology will be developed in the form of a systematic crystallization pipeline for membrane proteins. This high throughput monolayer template technology is particularly suited for the structure determination of proteins that are otherwise difficult to crystallize and has clear commercial potential. Membrane protein structures are themselves of value to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry ....Structural analysis of membrane proteins using template-mediated crystallization. A new frontier technology will be developed in the form of a systematic crystallization pipeline for membrane proteins. This high throughput monolayer template technology is particularly suited for the structure determination of proteins that are otherwise difficult to crystallize and has clear commercial potential. Membrane protein structures are themselves of value to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry for targeted drug design, which could realise benefits in the form of novel medical treatments and reduced side effects. The monolayer template technology will also extend the capabilities of the National Cryo-EM facility, the infrastructure of which, is open for all Australian researchers. Read moreRead less
Endosomal Protein Transport: From Molecular Structures to Biological Function. Intracellular transport of biomolecules through the endosomal organelle is critical for normal cellular processes such as signalling, homoeostasis and development. Defects in this fundamental process and subversion of it by bacterial and viral pathogens also lead to many different human diseases. This project will build on Australia's strong programme of structural and cellular biology research to develop key insights ....Endosomal Protein Transport: From Molecular Structures to Biological Function. Intracellular transport of biomolecules through the endosomal organelle is critical for normal cellular processes such as signalling, homoeostasis and development. Defects in this fundamental process and subversion of it by bacterial and viral pathogens also lead to many different human diseases. This project will build on Australia's strong programme of structural and cellular biology research to develop key insights into endosomal trafficking at the molecular level. Outcomes from this work will place Australia at the forefront of international efforts to understand this essential biological process and will have important implications for future design of pharmaceuticals.Read moreRead less
Spatio-temporal modelling of Ras dependent MAP kinase activation. This project is at the heart of the national research priority 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries'. Using cutting edge methods and techniques of systems biology, coupled with innovative experimental molecular cell biology we will construct and simulate mathematical models of the EGF-regulated MAP kinase pathway. The project will yield new insights into the fundamental mechanisms of cell sign ....Spatio-temporal modelling of Ras dependent MAP kinase activation. This project is at the heart of the national research priority 'Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries'. Using cutting edge methods and techniques of systems biology, coupled with innovative experimental molecular cell biology we will construct and simulate mathematical models of the EGF-regulated MAP kinase pathway. The project will yield new insights into the fundamental mechanisms of cell signal transduction that drive cell division, differentiation and transformation and may enable the design of new anticancer therapies. Importantly, the modelling and simulation methods developed in the project will have a general applicability to other complex systems such as sustainable ecological systems.Read moreRead less