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Elucidating the determinants of cation import across the kingdoms of life. The metal ion manganese is essential to all forms of life. This project aims to investigate how this poorly abundant cation is selectively acquired from the chemical complexity of the environment for import into cells by using state-of-the-art biochemical and microbiological techniques. This project expects to define the fundamental basis for how bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic plastid cation-selective importers can di ....Elucidating the determinants of cation import across the kingdoms of life. The metal ion manganese is essential to all forms of life. This project aims to investigate how this poorly abundant cation is selectively acquired from the chemical complexity of the environment for import into cells by using state-of-the-art biochemical and microbiological techniques. This project expects to define the fundamental basis for how bacterial, archaeal and eukaryotic plastid cation-selective importers can discriminate manganese from chemical similar cations to achieve selective uptake. The expected outcomes of this work will be an understanding of the fundamental basis for selective metal import in biological systems. This should provide benefits for industry through synthetic biological applications of this knowledge. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100096
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,000.00
Summary
High resolution atomic force microscopy facility for bionanotechnology. This project aims to establish a collaborative high resolution atomic force microscopy facility. Nanoscale surface structure and the complex structure/mechanical-functional relationships underpin many biological processes, and understanding cell systems at the molecular level is expected to lead to scientific knowledge and therapeutic and other biotechnological applications. Expected outcomes include innovations in advanced ....High resolution atomic force microscopy facility for bionanotechnology. This project aims to establish a collaborative high resolution atomic force microscopy facility. Nanoscale surface structure and the complex structure/mechanical-functional relationships underpin many biological processes, and understanding cell systems at the molecular level is expected to lead to scientific knowledge and therapeutic and other biotechnological applications. Expected outcomes include innovations in advanced manufacturing in the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries, underpinning economic returns from new industries.Read moreRead less
Characterising the transport and delivery of oligonucleotides . Short RNA and DNA molecules represent a class of macromolecules that have great potential, but to facilitate their trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers into specific sites of action is challenging. This project aims to develop and apply novel imaging approaches to track them in cells and tissues. Expected outcomes include better understanding of the trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers, and improved imaging ....Characterising the transport and delivery of oligonucleotides . Short RNA and DNA molecules represent a class of macromolecules that have great potential, but to facilitate their trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers into specific sites of action is challenging. This project aims to develop and apply novel imaging approaches to track them in cells and tissues. Expected outcomes include better understanding of the trafficking across cellular and membrane barriers, and improved imaging tools that could be used to further study the molecular mechanisms of accumulation, metabolism and trafficking of these molecules. This project should provide new strategies to target these molecules to specific cells and tissues, which have significant social and economic benefits to the Australian community.Read moreRead less
Nanoscale characterisation of the dynamics of artificial lipid membranes - model systems for drug binding studies. This project will see the development of artificial membranes replicating the physiological behaviour of cell membranes providing a novel platform for in vitro drug evaluation clearing the way for the development of effective new therapies with fewer side effects.
Toxins from Down Under: Novel tools to understand and modulate ion channels. Venoms are complex secretions containing biologically active components that have evolved over millions of years to specifically target the nervous systems of predators and prey. Two novel classes of toxins from snake and plant venoms that act on voltage-gated sodium channels, key proteins that regulate neuronal excitability, were recently identified by the research team. The project aims to develop and apply state-of-t ....Toxins from Down Under: Novel tools to understand and modulate ion channels. Venoms are complex secretions containing biologically active components that have evolved over millions of years to specifically target the nervous systems of predators and prey. Two novel classes of toxins from snake and plant venoms that act on voltage-gated sodium channels, key proteins that regulate neuronal excitability, were recently identified by the research team. The project aims to develop and apply state-of-the-art chemical, structural and biological techniques to unravel the molecular mechanisms through which these novel toxin classes act at their targets. Insights gained from this project will help identify and develop novel channel-modulating molecules that may have applications as neuroscience tools, diagnostics or drugs.Read moreRead less
The potential of membranes – peptide engineering to modulate ion channels. This project aims to develop a platform technology to identify new and selective sodium channel inhibitors based on ultra-stable venom peptides that can interact with and cross membranes. Sodium channels are involved in almost all aspects of human physiology. The ability to selectively inhibit individual sodium channel subtypes and to understand what drives peptides' ability to cross membranes would be a major achievement ....The potential of membranes – peptide engineering to modulate ion channels. This project aims to develop a platform technology to identify new and selective sodium channel inhibitors based on ultra-stable venom peptides that can interact with and cross membranes. Sodium channels are involved in almost all aspects of human physiology. The ability to selectively inhibit individual sodium channel subtypes and to understand what drives peptides' ability to cross membranes would be a major achievement and lead to new neuroscience research tools and technologies. This project’s proposed technology could be translated into new knowledge relevant to the biotechnology industry.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100784
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$373,254.00
Summary
Molecular probe development for the oxytocin and vasopressin receptors. The oxytocin and vasopressin receptors are part of a 600 million year old signalling system that is widely distributed in the kingdom of life. It is involved in many fundamental physiological functions, however we still lack a complete toolbox of selective probes to delineate the individual receptor subtypes. This project aims to introduce a novel and innovative strategy that uses state-of-the art discovery techniques to ide ....Molecular probe development for the oxytocin and vasopressin receptors. The oxytocin and vasopressin receptors are part of a 600 million year old signalling system that is widely distributed in the kingdom of life. It is involved in many fundamental physiological functions, however we still lack a complete toolbox of selective probes to delineate the individual receptor subtypes. This project aims to introduce a novel and innovative strategy that uses state-of-the art discovery techniques to identify selective ligands in nature. Leads will be developed into molecular probes to facilitate in-depth studies of this system. This strategy is applicable to other systems and the outcomes will contribute to a significant advancement of knowledge in chemical biology.Read moreRead less
Molecular mechanisms for copper trafficking across membranes. Copper is a trace metal that is essential for all forms of life, however it is toxic in excess. Tightly controlled protein-based metalloregulatory systems are responsible for copper uptake and homeostasis in all cells. Components of these systems are integral membrane transport proteins, which include the Ctr proteins that are solely responsible for copper uptake into eukaryotic cells. This project aims to define the molecular mechani ....Molecular mechanisms for copper trafficking across membranes. Copper is a trace metal that is essential for all forms of life, however it is toxic in excess. Tightly controlled protein-based metalloregulatory systems are responsible for copper uptake and homeostasis in all cells. Components of these systems are integral membrane transport proteins, which include the Ctr proteins that are solely responsible for copper uptake into eukaryotic cells. This project aims to define the molecular mechanisms by which the Ctr proteins transport copper across eukaryotic cell membranes, by solving their three-dimensional structures by X-ray crystallography.Read moreRead less
Making peptides orally bioavailable. Bioactive peptides are exceptionally useful molecules, however to fully realise their exciting applications key limitations need to be overcome: they can't be delivered orally and they do not last long in the body. This project aims to develop a molecular tag that can dramatically enhance both the oral absorption and time in the body of a peptide. This will include identifying the key elements of the tag required for function, the breadth of peptide cargoes i ....Making peptides orally bioavailable. Bioactive peptides are exceptionally useful molecules, however to fully realise their exciting applications key limitations need to be overcome: they can't be delivered orally and they do not last long in the body. This project aims to develop a molecular tag that can dramatically enhance both the oral absorption and time in the body of a peptide. This will include identifying the key elements of the tag required for function, the breadth of peptide cargoes it can be applied to and the mechanisms underlying this technology. The outcomes of this project will facilitate the future development of peptides for biotechnology, pharmaceutical and veterinary applications.Read moreRead less
Biologically inert probes to unravel nutrient directed cellular processing . In this project we will develop novel compounds that can act as probes of the pathways present in cells for the uptake of nutrients and other essential molecules and show how to generate new agents for identifying and targeting specific populations of cells. The project will generate new tools for understanding biological processes including cell transport and processing. The insights gained from this work are expected ....Biologically inert probes to unravel nutrient directed cellular processing . In this project we will develop novel compounds that can act as probes of the pathways present in cells for the uptake of nutrients and other essential molecules and show how to generate new agents for identifying and targeting specific populations of cells. The project will generate new tools for understanding biological processes including cell transport and processing. The insights gained from this work are expected to help guide the development of new agents for selectively delivering imaging and biologically active agents to cells.Read moreRead less