Redox Biology and Signalling in the Eye
Dr. Julie Lim
My research group aims to delay the onset of age-related eye diseases by identifying targeted strategies for minimising oxidative stress. A key focus of our group is to understand the interplay between reactive oxygen species, antioxidant defence systems and redox signalling in the different tissues of the eye. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that maintain the structure, function and physiology of the different tissues of the eye is important for identifying key processes that contribute to age related eye diseases such as lens cataract and retinal degeneration.
Current Research Projects
Inter-tissue cross talk in the eye
Ms Ivy Li (Research Technician), Dr Renita Martis
Having discovered that the lens is able to export the antioxidant glutathione into the surrounding environment, this project involves determining whether the lens and vitreous rely on each for inter-tissue exchange. If this is the case, removal of the lens or vitreous would disrupt antioxidant homeostasis resulting in oxidative damage to nearby tissues.
The role of circadian rhythms in the regulation of glutathione in the lens.
Tai Nguyen (PhD student), Dr Haruna Suzuki-Kerr, Dr Raewyn Poulsen
While glutathione is the principal antioxidant in the lens, little is known how glutathione levels are regulated in the lens. This project involves identifying whether the lens can act as a circadian clock to regulate glutathione levels at different times of the time to protect against oxidative stress
Diabetic cataract: a problem with cell volume regulation?
Ms Ivy Li, Dr Gus Grey, Prof. Paul Donaldson
Given our increasing diabetic population, the number of people affected by diabetic cataracts is increasing. It is proposed that in diabetics, hyperglycaemia induces oxidative stress, resulting in disruption of signalling pathways, cell swelling, and localised tissue damage observed in diabetic cataract. This project involves characterising the signalling pathways involved in fibre cell volume regulation as a first step towards identifying targets to delay the onset of cataracts
The xCT knockout mouse: a novel animal model for studying age related changes in the retina
Mr Luis Knight (PhD student), Dr Renita Martis, Dr Monica Acosta (Associate Professor)
The cystine/glutamate exchanger (xCT) has been shown to play an important role in maintaining redox balance in a number of different tissues. Loss of xCT results in accelerated aging in the eye and the early onset of cataracts and retinal deposits. To further understand the role of xCT in the retina, in this project an xCT knockout mouse is being used to study how retinal metabolism, retinal energetics and retinal ROS production is affected by the aging process.