Chairman of department: Dr C. M. Mauritzen Professors FRANCIS JOHN RAYMOND HIRD
SIMON JOSHUA LEACH
Professor of Biochemistry (Medical) GERHARD HANS SCHREIBER Readers PATRICK ROBERT CARNEGIE
LLOYD ROSS FINCH JOHN WILLIAMSON LEGGE MARY TERESA McQUILLAN
CHARLES ALBERT MICHAEL MAURITZEN Senior Lecturers BARRIE ERNEST DAVIDSON
KENWYN RONALD GAYLER BRUCE RAYMOND GRANT ROBERT W I L L I A M HENDERSON MAXWELL ARTHUR MARGINSON W I L L I A M HUGH SAWYER
Lecturers ROBERT CORNELIS AUGUSTEYN PAMELA ELLEN EMINA TODD Senior Tutors FLORENCE CHUN I FELLOWS
GEOFFREY H A M I L T O N McKENZIE A L A N A MITCHELL
V I M L A PATEL
JOHN W I L L I A M PHILLIPS KARL MALCOLM ROGERS
Senior Research Fellow GEORGE RICHARD JAGO Research Fellows ALAN JAMES HILLIER
NEIL W I L L I A M ISAACS JORG URBAN
Research Assistants HEIDE 1LSE DRYBURGH LEONIE HORVATH
RESEARCH TOPICS IN PROGRESS A. INTERMEDIARY METABOLISM
I. The precursors and site of formation of ammonia as a major excretion product in the Yabbie (Cherax destructor).
' 2. The significance in various animals of glutamate-aspartate aminotransferase and of adenylic acid deaminase in tissues.
3. The significance in various animals of the circulating level of non-esterificd fatty acids in the blood to the metabolism of the liver.
4. Regulation of nucleotide metabolism in microorganisms.
5. Regulation of nucleotide metabolism and differential sensitivity to cytotoxic agents in mammalian tumour cell lines.
6. The binding of porphyrins to tumour tissue.
7. Carbohydrate metabolism in lactic acid bacteria.
PROJECT DIRECTORS: I , 2, 3 - F. J. R. Hird; 4, 5, - L. R. Finch; 6 - R. W. Henderson; 7 - G. R. Jago.
B. STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION STUDIES ON PROTEINS 8. Identification of antigenic determinants in proteins using solid phase peptide synthesis.
9. Fluorescent labelled specific anti-HbF antibodies for diagnostic use. (With Haematology Dept.. Queen Victoria Hospital.)
10. The ratios of the non-allelic y- and y 8e n e products in the HbF of neonates of thalassaemic parents.
(With Haematology Dept., Queen Victoria Hospital.)
11. Synthesis, circular dichroism and NMR conformational analysis of tetrapeptides as models for biological recognition sites in proteins. (With Chemistry Dept.. Monash University.)
12. Conformational energy maps and random coil dimensions of copolypeptides containing hydroxyethylglutamine.
13. Application of the stochastic approach to thc evolution of distantly related monomeric globins.
14. Immunological cross-reactivities of mammalian myoglobins using sheep and rabbil antisera.
15. Evolution of myelin basic protein.
16. Influence of serum from patients with multiple sclerosis on myelin metabolism.
17. Evolution of enzymes involved in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis.
18. Structure-function studies on chorismate mutase/prephenate dehydratase and chorismate mutase/prephenate dehydrogenase.
106
BIOCHEMISTRY 107 19. Isolation of proteins involved in regulation of aromatic amino acid biosynthesis.
20. The redox potential of leghaemoglobin in the presence of added ligands.
21. New fluorescent probes for the study of membrane fluidity and protein-lipid interactions.
22. The membrane fluidity of normal and leukaemic lymphocytes. (With Dept. of Medicine, Austin Hospital.) 23. The mechanism of senile cataract formation.
PROJECT DIRECTORS: 8.9, 10, 11, 12 - S.J. Leach; 13, 14 - P. E. E.Todd; 15, 16 - P. R. Carnegie; 17, 18, 19 - B. E. Davidson; 20 - R. W. Henderson; 21, 22 - W. H. Sawyer; 23 - R. C. Augusteyn.
C. PROTEIN BIOSYNTHESIS 24. Posltranslational processing of serum albumin.
25. Metabolism of transferrin.
26. Synthesis and secretion of a,-acid glycoprotein.
27. ' Synthesis and secretion of a,-antitrypsin.
PROJECT DIRECTOR: 24, 25, 26, 27 - G. H. Schreiber.
D. ASPECTS OF PLANT AND MARINE BIOCHEMISTRY 28. The effects of thermal variations on phytoplankton productivity in Port Phillip Bay.
29. Amino acid biosynthesis during photosynthesis in marine algae.
30. Protein synthesis in developing seeds and leaves.
31. The biochemistry of algal chloroplasts.
32. The biochemistry and cytology of wound healing in coenocytic algae.
33. The physiology and biochemistry of the interaction of the fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi with its host species.
PROJECT DIRECTORS: 28, 29, 30 - K. R. Gayler; 31, 32, 33 - B. R. Grant.
E . B I O C H E M I C A L H I S T O R Y
34. The development of ideas concerning D-amino acids and D-amino acid oxidase as an exemplar of the development of biochemistry in the period 1936-1976 — M . A. Marginson.
35. The historical significance of the suffix "-ese" for enzymes catalyzing synthetic processes — M . A.
Marginson.
PUBLISHED WORK CHAPTERS OF BOOKS
1. CARNEGIE. P. R. and SIMS, N . R. - Myelin Proteins and Enzymes, in Multiple Sclerosis, a Critical Conspectus, cd. E. J. Field, pp. 165-206, MTP, Lancaster, England. 1977.
2. CARNEGIE. P. R. and MACKAY, I . R. - Cell Surface Receptors and Autoimmune Responses, in Autoimmunity, ed. N. Talal, pp. 597-620, Academic Press, New York, 1977.
A R T I C L E S
3. AUGUSTEYN, R. C. — Senile Cataracts - A Biochemical Review of Senile Cortical and Nuclear Cataracts. Aust. J. Ophthal. 5: 76-80 (1977).
4. BERKOV1C, S. F. and MAURITZEN, C. M . - Acetylation of Histones in Isolated Avian Erythroid Nuclei. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 475: 160-167 (1977).
5. CARNEGIE. P. R., FELLOWS, F. C. I . and SYMINGTON, G. R. - Urinary Excretion of Methylarginine in Human Disease. Metabolism 26: 531-537 (1977).
6. CHRISTOPHERSON, R. I. and FINCH, L. R. - The Assay of Orotate by an Isotope Dilution Procedure.
Anal. Biochem. SO: 159-167 (1977).
7. CHRISTOPHERSON. R. I . and FINCH. L. R. - Regulation or Aspartate Carbamoyltransferase of Escherichia coli by the Interrelationship of Magnesium and Nucleotides. Biochim. Biophvs. Ada 481: 80-85 (1977).
8. COGHLAN, S. D. and AUGUSTEYN, R. C. - Changes in the Distribution of Proteins in the Aging Human Lens. Exp. Eve Res. 25: 603-611 (1977).
9. COLLINS, F. D., FEHER, A. I . and HEALY. T. W. - Mixed Monolayers of Simple Saturated and Unsaturated Fatty Acids. Aust. J. Chem. 30: 511-519 (1977).
10. GAYLER, K. R. and GRANT, B. R. - Heated Effluent Study. Part 11. Effects of Temperature Stress on Productivity of Phytoplankton Species from Hobson's Bav. Report to the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, 30 pp. (1977).
11. GETHING, M.-J. H. and DAVIDSON, B. E. - Chorismate Mutase/Prephenate Dehydratase from Escherichia coli K 12. Modification with 5, 5'-Dithio-bis (2-nitrobenzoic acid). Eur. J. Biochem. 78: 103-110
12. GETHING, M.-J. H. and DAVIDSON, B. E. - Chorismate Mutase/Prcphenatc Dehydratase from Escherichia coli K12. Effects of Chemical Modification on the Enzymic Activities and Allosteric Inhibition.
Eur. J. Biochem. 78: 111-117 (1977).
13. HOWARD, R. J., GRANT, B. R. and FOCK, H. - The Flow of Carbon into Storage Products during Long Term Photosynthesis in Caulerpa simpliciuscula. J. Phvcol. IS: 340-345 (1977).
14. HURRELL, J. G. R. and LEACH, S.J. - The Amino Acid Sequence of Soybean Leghaemoglobin c,. EEBS Letters 80: 23-26 (1977).
15. HURRELL, J. G. R., SMITH, J. A. and LEACH, S. J. - Immunological Measurements of Conformational Motility in Regions of the Myoglobin Molecule. Biochemistry 16: 175-185 (1977).
16.. HURRELL, J. G. R., SMITH, J. A., TODD, P. E. and LEACH, S. J. - Cross-Reactivity between Mammalian Myoglobins: Linear vs Spatial Antigenic Determinants, lmmunochemislrv 14: 283-288 (1977).
17. HURRELL, J. G. R., THULBORN, K. R. and LEACH, S. J. - Leghaemoglobins: Immunochemistrv and Phylogenetic Relationships. FEBS Letters 84: 244-247 (1977).
18. LEACH, S. J., NEMETHY, G. and SCHERAGA. H. A. - Use of Proton Nuclear Overhauser Effects lor the Determination of the Conformations of Amino Acid Residues in Oligopeptides. Biochem. Biophvs. Res.
Commun. 75: 207-215 (1977).
19. LEES, G. J. and JAGO, G. R. - Formation of Acetaldehyde from 2-Deoxy-D-ribose-5-phosphate in Lactic- Acid Bacteria. J. Dairy Res. 44: 139-144 (1977).
20. MITCHELL, A. and FINCH, L. R. - Pathways of Nucleotide Biosynthesis in Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides. J. Bacterial. 130: 1047-1054 (1977).
21. NICOLA, N . A. and LEACH, S. J. - Structural Rearrangements Due to Ligand Binding and Haem Replacement in Myoglobin and Leghaemoglobins. Eur. J. Biochem. 78: 133-140 (1977).
22. NICOLA, N . A. and LEACH, S. J. - Structural Basis of Heme Reactivity in Myoglobin and Leghemoglobin: Thermal Difference Spectra. Biochemistry 16: 50-58 (1977).
23. PHILLIPS, J. W. and HIRD, F. J. R. - Gluconeogenesis in Vertebrate Livers. Comp. Biochem. Phvsiol.
57B: 127-131 (1977).
24. PHILLIPS, J. W. and HIRD, F. J. R. - Ketogenesis in Vertebrate Livers. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 57B:
133-138 (1977).
25. PHILLIPS, J. W., McKINNEY, R. J. W., HIRD, F. J. R. and M A C M I L L A N , D. L. - Lactic Acid Formation in Crustaceans and the Liver Function ofthe Midgut Gland Questioned. Comp. Biochem. Phvsiol.
56B: 427-433 (1977).
26. REYNOLDS, E. C. and FINCH, L. R. - Estimation of ["P] Deoxyrihonucleoside Triphosphates in Cell Extracts Using Periodate Treatment. Anal. Biochem. 82: 591-595 (1977).
27. SAWYER, W. H„ CAMERON, D. W. and TRIKOJUS, V. M . - Colouring Matters of the Aphidoidea.
X L I I . Purification and Properties of the Cyclising Enzyme (Protoaphin Dehydratase (Cyclising)) concerned with Pigment Transformations in the Woolly Aphid Eriosoma lanigernm Hausmann (Hcmiptera, Insecta).
Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 30: 173-181 (1977).
28. SHAMGAR, F. A. and COLLINS, F. D. - Incorporation of [2-JH] Ethanolamine into Rat Muscle Phosphoglycerides. Aust. J. Esp. Biol. Med. Sci. 55: 371-378 (1977).
29. SHAMGAR, F. A. and COLLINS, F. D. - Pool Sizes and Metabolism of CDPcholine and CDPethanolamine in Skeletal Muscle. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 76 550-558 (1977).
30. SMITH, J. A., HURRELL, J. G. R. and LEACH, S. J. - Conformational Integrity of Myoglobin after Immunization with Freund's Adjuvant. J. Immunology 118: 226-228 (1977).
31. SMITH, J. A., HURRELL, J. G. R. and LEACH, S. J. - A Novel Method for Delineating Antigenic Determinants: Peptide Synthesis and Radioimmunoassay using the Same Solid Support. Immunochemistry 14: 565-568 (1977).
32. S U L L I V A N . J. j . , MUCHNICKY, E. E., DAVIDSON, B. E. and JAGO. G. R. - Purification and Properties of the Pyrrolidonccarboxylate Peptidase of Streptococcus faecium. Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 30: 543-552 (1977).
33. THULBORN, K. R., SAWYER, W. H. and SMITH, J. A. - Membrane Fluidity in R hn ui | and Normal Erythrocyte Ghosts. Blood 50: 964-965 (1977).
34. TRUSCOTT, R. J. W. and AUGUSTEYN, R. C. - Oxidative Changes in Human Lens Proteins during Senile Nuclear Cataract Formation. Biochim. Biophvs. Ada 492: 43-52 (1977).
35. TRUSCOTT, R. J. W. and AUGUSTEYN, R. C. - Changes in Human Lens Proteins during Nuclear Cataract Formation. Exp. Eve Res. 24: 159-170 (1977).
36. TRUSCOTT, R. J. W. and AUGUSTEYN, R. C. - The State of Sulphvdryl Groups in Normal and Cataractous Human Lenses. Exp. Eve Res. 25: 139-148 (1977).
T H E S E S P A S S E D F O R H I G H E R D E G R E E S Doctor of Science
1. DENBOROUGH, M. A. — Studies on Malignant Hyperpyrexia and on Glycoproteins in Man Doctor of Philosophy
2. HURRELL, J. G. R. — Immunological and Structural Studies on Some Plant and Animal Glohins 3. SIMS, N. R. - 2', 3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase
Master of Science
4. MILLERSHIP, A. S. - Synthesis and Secretion of Bovine Serum Albumin Master of Agricultural Science 5. BROOME, M. C. — Inhibition of Group N Streptococci by Linoleic Acid
B I O C H E M I S T R Y 109 T H E S E S IN P R O G R E S S
PhD Theses in Progress P. N. BYRT - Biochemical Investigations in Phylophlhera cinnamomi M. CHELLADURAI — Intermediate Forms of Secretory Proteins
A. L. CH'NG — Uptake. Storage and Excretion of Nitrogenous Compounds by Marine Benthic Algae SIVAPRASAD DAVULURI - Amino Acid Metabolism in relation to End-Products of Nitrogen Metabolism T. W. DREHER - The Biochemistry of the Wound Response in the Algal Genus Caulerpa
K. J. EDWARDS - Biosynthesis of Albumin in Rat Liver
D. J. EVANS — Studies on the Synthesis and Tertiary Structure of Peptides and their Relationship to Protein Folding
E. A. HA1GH - Fluorescent Probes as Indicators of Membrane Structure
D. B. HAWTHORNE - Structure and Function of I. i-B Linked Glucans Found in Siphonous Algae I. W. MITCHELSON — Investigation of Side Chain Modification lo the Nuclear Proteins of Chicken Erythrocytes during their Development
Y. J. PATERSON — The Dimensions of Randomly Coiled Co-Polypeptides I. R. RADFORD - Effect of Cytotoxic Drugs on DNA Synthesis
E. REYNOLDS — Thymidine Sensitivity of Murine Myeloma and Lymphoma Celts
D. H. SMALL — Synthesis of Myelin Basic Protein in relation to Multiple Sclerosis Serum Factors J. A. SMITH — Synthesis. Structure and Immunochemistry of Peptide Sequences in Globins and Staphylococcal Nuclease
K. R. THULBORN - Fluorescent Probes for Studying Membrane Structure
S. W. WRIGHT — Special Properties associated with Chloroplasts of Siphonous Green Algae M.Sc Theses in Progress
A. H.-H. BUI — Cations Transport and Membrane Fluidity of Human Blood Lymphocytes (jointly with Dept. of Medicine, Austin Hospital)
K. T. BURGESS - Phosphorylation of Myelin Membrane
E. C. CORNISH — Investigations into the Nature and Structure of ihe Tyr R Gene Product o/Escherichia coli (jointly with Microbiology Dept.)
R. M . DAVY - The Effect of Altered Haem-Llgand Binding and other Modifications on the Properties of Cytochrome c
1. J. EAST — Interrelationships between Globin Proteins
S. M . GREEN Effect of Fumaratc on the Metabolism of Streptococcus lactis
G. S. HUDSON — Comparative Studies on Chorismate Mutase-Prephenate Dehydratase and Chorismate Mutase-Prephenate Dehydrogenase from E. coli
J. MITCHELL — Nucleotide Contents and DNA Synthesis in Fibroblasts Treated with Hydroxy Urea M. NAGASHIMA — Biochemical Study of On-Acid Glycoprotein
F. H. STONE — Regulation of Nucleotide Metabolism in Mammalian Tumour Cell Lines M. THOMAS — Aspects ofthe Metabolism of Pyruvate by Group N Streptococci
S U B S T A N T I A L G R A N T S R E C E I V E D (OVER $5,000) Grants have been received as follows:-
Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria: Regulation and Inhibitors of Nucleotide Metabolism of Tumour and Other Ceu Lines in Liquid Culture.
Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria: The Relation between Rates of Growth and Albumin Synthesis in Minimal Deviation Hepatoma.
Australian Research Grants Committee (ARGC): Structure and Function of Myelin Proteins.
ARGC: Investigations into the Structure and Function of Some Bacterial Enzymes.
ARGC: Amino Acid Biosynthesis during Photosynthesis of Marine Algae.
ARGC: Chloroplast Metabolism.
ARGC: The Structure and Evolution of Primitive Haemoglobins.
ARGC: Protein-Lipid Interactions in Natural and Model Membranes.
ARGC: Comparative Studies on the Structures of Three Isofunctional DAHP Synthetases from Escherichia coli K-12 (with Microbiology Dept.).
National Health and Medical Research Council: Phosphorylation of Myelin Basic Protein and Multiple Sclerosis.
National Health and Medical Research Council: Synthesis and Secretion of Protein by the Liver.
National Health and Medical Research Council: Diagnostic. Biosynthetic and Molecular Studies on Haemoglobinopathies (with Dept. of Haematology. Queen Victoria Hospital).
National Institutes of Health, U.S.A.: The Mechanism of Senile Cataract Formation.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society. U.S.A.: Characterization of Antibrain Factors in Serum from Patients wilh Multiple Sclerosis.
Wool Research Trust Fund (Australian Wool Corporation): Synthesis and Conformation of Peptides Forming p- Turns in Proteins.
In addition, 15 grams of between SI,000 and $5,000 were received from the following donors:-
Australian Research Grants Committee: Forests Commission, Victoria; Ministry for Conservation, Victoria;
Multiple Sclerosis Society of Victoria; National Health and Medical Research Council; Medical Research