Biochemistry Research
Through world-class research, we are supporting the advancement of biochemistry and molecular biology, helping to facilitate the sharing of expertise and knowledge.
Biochemistry Research Projects
Towards improved cancer diagnostics through novel protein-state specific methods
Status: In-progress Year: 2022 Funded: $109,998 Grant Type: Major Project Grant
Cancer diagnosis and prognosis strongly relies on biopsies, where small amounts of tissues are analysed for the presence of tumour marker proteins. One of the frequently analysed proteins is p16, which in its healthy state helps to suppress cell division. We recently discovered that this protein can undergo a major structural change into amyloid. Amyloid fibrils are protein aggregates that are frequently found in neurodegenerative diseases but have so far not been reported in cancer. We found that p16 has altered functions when in the amyloid state and cannot suppress cell division anymore.
So far, diagnostic methods only measure the absence or presence of biomarkers but are not able to distinguish active from non-functioning proteins. To know if a crucial cancer-related protein is active or not would significantly improve current diagnostic and prognostic procedures by adding another dimension to the currently available methods.
In this project, we aim to exploit knowledge about the novel p16 protein amyloid state for the future development of improved diagnostic methods. We will screen a number of established cancer cell lines and patient tumours for the novel p16 state which will allow us, for the first time, to understand the prevalence of amyloids in cancer.
The structural plasticity of an essential toxin-secretion system in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Status: In-progress Year: 2021 Funded: $110,000 Grant Type: Major Project Grant
The growing resistance of microbes to medicines used to prevent and treat infections is a global health threat. The pathogenic bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis already kills >1 million people per year and is increasingly developing resistance to the few available treatments we have. One way that M. tuberculosis survives in humans is by secreting a toxin that kills immune cells. This toxin relies on proper and efficient secretion at the right time for effective killing, therefore making the machinery that secretes it a good target for drug discovery efforts. This project seeks to understand the role of a crucial component of the system that exports this toxin from the bacteria, by uncovering how this component is structured and assembled. The understanding of this system will give us the knowledge that may help to develop the urgently needed new treatments for tackling this global pandemic.
Researcher // Dr Timothy Allison – University of Canterbury
