CCMB Major Research Areas

The Centre for Cellular and Molecular biology has a strong research focus on the biology of metals. Prof Mercer is a recognized world leader in the molecular and cellular biology of copper; A/Prof Leigh Ackland and Dr David Kramer are collaborating on aspects of this work. In addition, A/Prof Ackland has research programs on zinc and A/Prof Peter Beech is establishing a reputation for research excellence in the study of organelle di.

Trace elements in heath and disease

Professor Julian Mercer, Associate Professor Leigh Ackland and Dr David Kramer 

Trace elements such as zinc and copper are of vital importance for normal health and development. Disorders of trace elements are involved in important diseases such as Alzheimers disease as well as genetic diseases.  How these elements are moved safely around the body is still not known in any detail. We aim to find the molecular mechanisms involved in trace element delivery to cells, and what goes wrong in trace element disorders. We are working on three elements: copper, zinc and arsenic.

Copper in health and diseases

Professor Julian Mercer, Dr David Kramer, Dr Sharon La Fontaine, Dr Roxana Llanos, Dr Alanna Castelli  

Prof Mercer's group is investigating how copper is regulated in the body.  Menkes disease is a fatal genetic copper deficiency disorder.  Prof Mercer isolated the affected gene and continues to study the function of the Menkes protein in copper metabolism.  This research may lead to better treatment of common disorders such as Alzheimers disease which appear to involve an imbalance of copper in the brain.

We are also investigating the physiological mechanisms involved in the uptake of copper from the diet and delivery of copper to fetuses (across the placenta) and newborns (in breast milk).

Zinc – an essential nutrient

Associate Professor Leigh Ackland, Dr Cenk Suphioglu, Dr Agnes Michalczyk

Zinc deficiency is considered to be a public health problem that affects some communities including pregnant and breast feeding women and newborn babies. Lack of zinc affects the immune system, impairs wound healing and may cause growth retardation, if severe. As there are no reliable tests for body zinc deficiency, we are developing new methods based on specific zinc transporting molecules which can be used to detect cases of zinc deficiency.

Understanding how cancers spread around the body

Associate Professor Leigh Ackland, Dr Cenk Suphioglu, Dr Agnes Michalczyk  

A major problem in treating cancers is that the cancer cells may have spread around the body and cannot be targeted by radiation or chemicals, without normal cells being affected. It is important to understand what makes cancer cells spread but this information cannot be obtained readily from studies of individuals. We have developed a cell culture model of the human breast that is enabling us to unravel the different stages in cancer progression. This may lead to the development of new anti-cancer strategies.

Flexing muscles

Dr Jan West 

Jan West is a muscle physiologist with a broad interest in understanding how muscles contract (both crustacean and mammalian). In particular, how muscle structure and function changes during development. She has been using the freshwater crayfish Cherax destructor to study how muscles change during limb regeneration. A current study on fast- and slow-twitch muscles in a mouse model predisposed to epilepsy, with collaborators from the Howard Florey Institute, is providing insights into this disease.

Evolution of organelle division

A/Prof Peter Beech 

We study the molecular cell biology of mitochondrial and chloroplast di. Though we know that these two organelles arose from bacteria, we know little about how they are replicated and distributed at cell di. These are basic questions of biology, and answers to them will help us understand how these respiratory and photosynthetic machines have been retained by cells for millions of years. Our model organisms are protists, such as the amoeba, Dictyostelium, and unicellular algae.