Research

The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is very active in a variety of research areas, has made significant contributions in these areas and is well respected internationally as a research centre.

These research interests include the structure and function of glycoprotein hormones, and other novel regulators of fertility; mechanism of protease action; peptide drug design and synthesis; the biochemistry of growth factors involved in reproduction and tumorigenesis; modern bioseparation science and its interface in modern biotechnology; the molecular biology of mitochondria; the human interferons; the biochemistry of apoptosis and immunosuppression; the organization and function of extracellular macromolecules; the biochemistry and pathobiology of cartilage and glomerular basement membranes; parasitic diseases; obesity and diabetes; autoimmune diseases; biochemistry of hyaluronan; mechanism of bioenergy production; intracellular signalling and cell growth.

Within the department is the Centre for Bioprocess Technology where fundamental research using modern biochemical approaches is interfaced with applied work involved with the development of novel products used in medicine and industry.

Research Projects in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Dr M. Aguilar

• Peptide folding and drug design

Dr S. Bottomley

• Protein folding, misfolding and disease

Dr P. Bird

• Regulation of cell death by intracellular serpins

Dr W.D. Comper

• Diabetes and renal failure
• Mechanisms of proteinuria in kidney

Associate Professor R.J. Devenish, Professor P. Nagley and Dr M. Prescott

• The structure and function of a molecular machine: mitochondrial ATP synthase

Dr J.R.E. Fraser, Dr T.J. Brown

• Role of hyaluronan in disease

Professor D.A. Jans

• Targeting Proteins to the Nulceus: Development, Viral Disease and Drug Delivery

Dr A. Lawen

• Immunosuppressants/Apoptosis/Bioenergy/Memory formation

Professor C.A. Mitchell

• Intracellular signalling and cancer

Professor P. Nagley

• The structure and function of a molecular machine: mitochondrial ATP synthase
• Mitochondria in ageing and disease, cell regulation and cell death

Associate Professor F.M. Ng

• Molecular and cellular studies of obesity and diabetes

Dr R.N. Pike, Dr S.P. Bottomley, Associate Professor E.J. Mackie

• Structure-function relationships of proteases, their inhibitors and receptors and relationship to disease

Dr M. Rowley

• Functional aspects of antibodies to collagen
• Molecular analysis of the cause and expression of autoimmune diseases

Dr M. Rowley, Dr Ian Mackay & Professor P.Z. Zimmet

• Molecular analysis of the cause and expression of autoimmune diseases

Dr T. Spithill

• Molecular parasitology

Dr T. Tiganis

• Protein tyrosine phosphatases in cancer

Dr M-P. Van Damme

• The role of polysaccharide-protein interactions in the organisation and structure of normal and diseased cartilage
• The potential role of hyaluronan in fertility regulation
• Functional aspects of antibodies to collagen

Dr J.C. Whisstock

• Structural Biology and Bioinformatics - analyzing the human genome
• Serpins