Monash University > Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences > Department of Biochemistry > Staff >

(Collaborators: Dr. Jamie Rossjohn, A/Prof. Rod Devenish and Dr. Sophie Dove, Centre for Marine Studies, University of Queensland)

Reef-building corals are renowned for their vivid and diverse colours. The proteins that are responsible for these myriad colours are called pocilloporins and many are fluorescent. They possess multiple photoprotective functions one of which is to protect the photosystems of their resident photosynthetic algae from large light fluctuations. These pigments are related to the green fluorescent protein isolated from the jelly fish Aequorea victoria. We are studying the relationship between the structure, colour and fluorescence properties of the pocilloporins with the aim of contributing to our understanding of their function in vivo.

The pocilloporins represent potential powerful tools for biotechnology. We have recently determined the crystal structure of one member of this family and aim to determine other family members and to engineer new variants with the aim to generate a new array of products for biotechnology use.

(Collaborators: A/Prof. Rod Devenish)

Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process. It is involved in the processes of starvation, cell death, development and pathogenesis. In particular autophagy has been linked to degenerative diseases of the nervous system and muscle such as Alzheimer's disease and Danon disease.

Most intracellular short-lived proteins are selectively degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway while most long-lived proteins are degraded in lysosomes. Autophagy is the process of delivering proteins destined for degradation to the lysosome. One form of autophagy is macroautophagy and is responsible for the majority of intracellular protein degradation including organelles such as the mitochondrion.

The molecular mechanism of autophagy is poorly understood. We are investigating the role of autophagy in development and pathogenesis with a particular focus on the turnover of the mitochondria. We have developed some novel assays based on fluorescent proteins that allow autophagy of specific cellular constituents to be followed in the living cell.

A Facility is being for Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) is in the process of being established in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. This Facility to be fully operational by mid-2003 will allow the fluorescence lifetime imaging to be performed on live cells. One key application for this technique will be monitoring protein-protein interactions inside cells with the aid of fluorescent protein technology and other fluorescent probes.

(Collaborators: Ass/Prof. Rod Devenish and Prof. Phillip Nagley)

ATP synthase is responsible for the synthesis of almost all ATP used by cells. We are interested in understanding the structure and function of this enzyme, the smallest known rotary motor. The complex is driven to make ATP on an extrinsic membrane catalytic sector by proton flow through their membrane channel.

Paul Gavin Bsc (Hons) Monash University
e-mail: Paul.Gavin@med.monash.edu.au

Szczepan Nowakowski Bsc (Hons) Monash University
email: Szczepan.Nowakowski@med.monash.edu.au

Carlos Rosado Bsc (Hons) Monash University
e-mail: Carlos.Rosado@med.monash.edu.au

Pascal Wilman BSc (Hons), Monash University, PhD student
e-mail: Pascal.Wilmann@med.monash.edu.au

Jans Petersen Visiting scientist: University of Freiburg, Germany
e-mail: jan.petersen@physchem.uni-freiburg.de

Anne Pettikiriarachchi Honours student
e-mail: Anne.Pettikiriarachchi@med.monash.edu.au

Janani Varatharajah Honours student
e-mail: Janani.Varatharajah@med.monash.edu.au