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Muscle Research Group
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Nikki Beard
Postdoctoral Fellow
I am working on the skeletal muscle calcium binding protein calsequestrin.
I am most interested how this protein regulates and interacts with the ryanodine
receptor, and it's role in the bigger picture of sarcoplasmic reticulum
calcium release. My aims are to identify possible calcium binding and other
modulatory regions on CSQ, and further investigate the interaction of calsequestrin,
triadin, junctin, the ryanodine receptor. I shall use mutagenesis and various
biochemical and electrophysiological means to study these interactions.
Outside the lab, I enjoy bushwalking, dancing, embroidery and learning German. |
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Pierre Pouliquin
Postdoctoral Fellow
My research is focused on ion transport systems from biological membranes.
My PhD was dedicated to the study of nitrate and proton transport systems
from the plant plasma membrane. Since then, Im working on the calcium release
channel (ryanodine receptor) from the skeletal muscle. The approaches I
use include biochemistry, biophysics-electrophysiology, molecular and cell
biology. Im currently focused on the determination of the ryanodine receptors
structure, and on the determination of protein-protein interaction sites
insides its sequence. |
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Suzy Pace
Senior Technical Officer
I am the Muscle Research Group's Senior Technical Officer and I have been
in Angela Dulhunty's group for twelve years. I am the laboratory manager
and contribute technically to the various research projects. I
love classical music and it can often be heard playing in our laboratory.
I also enjoy visiting art galleries and my physical activities include
swimming and hiking |
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Joan Stivala
Technical Officer
I am a technical officer and my background is in clinical biochemistry.
I have worked in Angela Dulhunty's group for eleven years. My responsibilities
include both techncal and administrative tasks. My interests
are in the study of the language and history of ancient Rome. Thanks to
Suzy's encouragement I am also a keen swimmer. |
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Esther Gallant
Research
Advisor
My main experimental duties are recording single channel currents in artificial
lipid bilayers and recording force produced by bundles of skeletal muscle
cells. A large amount of my time is spent doing whatever Angela needs at
the moment to keep the lab running smoothly: trouble shooting, equipment
repair and technique development, for example. Several years ago I retired
from my position as Professor at the University of Minnesota (research in
Muscle physiology/biophysics) so that I could live the good life in Australia.
For me that means lots of bush walking in the mountains, running, biking,
camping, photography and gardening along with some concerts, gallery visits,
and travel. |
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Lan Wei
PhD Scholar
It is my great fortune to do my PhD with Professor Angela Dulhunty and
become a member of this group. I am sharing the same topic regarding the
raynodine receptor in skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum with other
members for the following couple of years. The part that I am interested
in is the major intracellular calcium storage calsequestrin, including
its interactions with other binding proteins and the mechanism of their
regulation to the ryanodine receptor. I am currently concentrating on
testing those proteins in pairs by the methods of biophysics and electrophysiology
after they have been biochemically purified. I am a sports fan. Volleyball
is my favourite. I also enjoy classical music and read books for entertainment
and relaxation
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Ruwani Hewawasam
PhD Scholar
I am always grateful to Prof Angela Dulhunty for giving me an opportunity
to do my PhD in her lab at JCSMR. My research is based on glutathione
transferase derived compounds and their effect on cardiac ryanodine receptors.
The significance of my project reflects the essential nature of the ryanodine
receptor (RyR2) for cardiac function. Although inhibitory mechanisms are
critical to maintain low RyR2 activity in the heart during diastole, few
are known and they are poorly understood. I am trying to close that knowledge
gap. Over activity of RyR2 in heart failure leads to cardiac fibrillation
and death. The project provides me an opportunity to characterize a new
drug target and to develop a novel drug to specifically inhibit RyR2 in
cardiac failure. I love Sri Lankan classical music and traditional dancing.
I also read books for relaxation. |
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Han Shen Tae
PhD Scholar
Conformational coupling between the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) and
the ryanodine receptor 1 (RyR1) plays a vital role in excitation contraction
coupling (ECC) in skeletal muscle. It has been known that the II-III loop
of the DHPR participates in this interaction. However the exact binding
site on RyR1 remains unidentified.
My lab life revolves around the RyR1 SPRY2 domain which has been shown
to interact with the DHPR II-III loop. I am using biochemical, electrophysiological,
biophysical techniques such as mutagenesis, single channel recordings,
nuclear magnetic resonance and fluorescence spectroscopy to investigate
such interactions. |
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