UC Biomolecular Interaction Centre - BIC

Awesome to see research by BIC Principal Investigator Vanessa Morris, Associate Investigator Christoph Göbl, lead author Sarah Health and colleagues published in Nature Communications.
The study of amyloid formation and depolymerisation could inform future treatments for cancer.

Amyloid formation and depolymerization of tumor suppressor p16INK4a are regulated by a thiol-dependent redox mechanism - Nature Communications The conversion of a soluble protein into polymeric amyloid structures is poorly understood. Here the authors report that the tumor suppressor protein p16INK4a changes its structure upon oxidation to form aggregated amyloid fibrils, which are fully reversible upon disulfide bond reduction.

Great article on research by BIC researchers exploring potential future treatments for cancer.

New protein discovery may influence future cancer treatment Researchers from the University of Otago, Christchurch, have spearheaded the discovery of a protein function which has the potential to guide the development of novel cancer treatment options and improve the diagnosis of various cancers

Why are maple trees being grown in North Otago?

Tree Syrup Aotearoa In the Tree Syrup Aotearoa research programme, we’re focusing on the potential of young trees for making maple syrup. Our aim is to use a closely spaced, horticultural-style row-crop, similar to an orchard or vineyard, and to trial new pruning techniques that result in smaller plants with multiple...

Yesterday, the poster session by BIC summer students was well attended. With more than 20 summer students (thanks to BIC, NZPA and other funding) a poster session was a great way to share what the students have been doing to a wider audience. Congratulations to the students for creating some superb posters. With most of the students continuing on to postgraduate study, the summer studentships for 2023/4 have been a great success.

Congratulations to the 3D printing research team for their recent publication on "3D Printing for catalytic activity – Ink development using a drop-on-demand cartridge".
Some superb research coming out of the BIC hosted 3D printing programme, funded by an MBIE research programme grant.

Redirecting

Congratulations to Essie Van Zuylen for her success in being awarded a Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao Fellowship to study The psychoactive mushrooms of New Zealand, understanding our fungal taonga species at the University of Canterbury.
This prestigious fellowship provides four years of support for talented young researchers to focus on developing their career in New Zealand.

21 Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao Fellowships invest in Māori and Pacific STEM researchers Ngā Puanga Pūtaiao Fellowships have been awarded to 18 early-career and 3 mid-career scientific (Pūtaiao) researchers.

Merry Christmas to you all. I hope you have a great Christmas and get some down time for what has seemed like a very busy year.

Another publication from members of the Biomolecular Interaction Centre. Well done and congratulations.

Structural and biophysical analysis of a Haemophilus influenzae tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic (TRAP) transporter Tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic (TRAP) transporters are secondary-active transporters that receive their substrates via a soluble binding protein to move bioorganic acids across bacterial or archaeal cell membranes. Recent cryo-EM structures of TRAP transporters provide a broad framework to u...

Congratulations to members of BIC who have been successful in the recent Marsden funding round.
Dr Jodie Johnston at the University of Canterbury for “How allosteric tuning influences enzyme promiscuity and host adaptation” (standard Marsden, $942,000)
Dr Vanessa Morris at the University of Canterbury for “Regulation of cell death by amyloid fibrils” (Standard Marsden, $942,000)
Professor Emily Parker at Victoria University of Wellington for “Deciphering the molecular details of unusual fungal biosynthetic enzymes” (Standard, $941,000)
Dr William Welton at the University of Waikato for “Predicting the mutational trajectories behind viral zoonotic events” (Standard Marsden, $940,000)
Dr Rachael Wood at the University of Canterbury for “Mechanical and biomedical modelling of highly invasive endometriotic tissue” (Fast-start, $360,000)
Dr Amy Yewdall at the University of Canterbury for “Coming together for better or worse? How biomolecular interactions impact the self-assembly and properties of nucleoli-like condensates” (Fast-start $360,000)

Also congratulations to those AIs involved in these projects, unfortunately the list I have only gives the names of the PI on each grant.

This success, along with previous grant successes, reflects both the diversity and quality of the research being carried out by BIC members.

The Biomolecular Interaction Centre (BIC) symposium will take place on Wednesday the 22nd November.
For more details and registration go to

Biomolecular Interaction Centre (BIC) Symposium The BIC Symposium is an opportunity for BIC members and guests to gather to share research and socialise.

A fascinating description of some of the research Dr Heather Hendrickson will be pursuing following her successful $8.9 million-dollar MBIE Endeavour fund.

Heather is one of nine BIC researchers associated projects which have been successful in the recent round of MBIE Endeavour and Smart Ideas funding.

Researchers trial sustainable biocontrols for food industry ‘Nature’s ninjas’ could help protect kiwifruit and bees from dangerous pathogens if new research by a team of Canterbury and Otago scientists pays ...

Scanning electron cryo-microscopy (CryoSEM) is being applied to better understand of microstructures within maple saplings by Professor Watson and his team at UC and BIC.
This technique can be used to image materials with high water content. The method allows us to preserve a sample in its hydrated state, therefore providing representative images of the sample's internal structure, morphology and composition.
This research was initially explored using a seeding grant from the New Zealand Product Accelerator.

Tree Syrup Aotearoa Our team recently visited the cryo-SEM facility at Monash University to collect images of the microstructures within sugar maple saplings.