Membrane proteins in innate immunity (2013-2015)

Macrophages are the body's first line of defense against infection, providing both surveillance and protection against pathogen invasion. We will build exciting new capacity into an established ARC-funded pipeline linking macrophage gene expression with structural and cell biology, by embracing innovative membrane protein screening technology. Our proposed research on solute transporters will create fundamental new knowledge on mammalian membrane proteins, a class of protein that is significantly under-represented in structural databases. Importantly, the research outcomes will simultaneously elucidate specific molecular mechanisms underpinning the essential biological process of innate immunity.