How specific surface proteins on extracellular vesicles medicate cell signalling and function

Student research project

Supervisor(s): Associate Professor David Greening

The Molecular Proteomics laboratory is focused on understanding the molecular function of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and how their intercellular signalling is important in normal physiology and pathologies; including cardiometabolic disease with the goal of identifying new deliverable therapeutic targets. We apply quantitative proteomics and various functional and molecular approaches to understand the composition, signalling, and function of EVs. The advanced approaches developed in our lab have identified novel regulators of cell function and EV biology, design of candidate drug delivery vehicles, and functional delivery of proteins. Our team has utilised this knowledge for commercial and translational potential.

Project summary

The extracellular vesicle (EV) surface (surfaceome) acts as a fundamental signalling gateway by bridging intra- and extracellular signalling networks, dictates EVs’ capacity to communicate and interact with their environment, and is a source of potential disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets. This project will focus on understanding purified circulating EVs and defining the surface composition, insights into origin from specific tissues in health and disease. The project will also lead new mass spectrometry approaches applied to biofluid analyses developed by our team. The student will be exposed to novel EV purification and characterisation approaches, cutting edge technologies including quantitative proteomics, as well as informatics, functional assays, and biofluid handling/processing. The project will overall lead to new insights into composition of circulating EVs, surface markers of circulating EVs, and implications in intercellular signalling and function.

This project is suitable for an Honours or PhD student and will expose you to numerous skills and technologies, including:

• animal model
• bioinformatics
• cell culture
• data analysis
• molecular biology
• proteomics.

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