One of Australia’s leading research and science facilities, the Australian Synchrotron today announced that Nature, the premier international journal for science had published research carried out at its state-of-the-art facility.  

Acting Facility Director, Dr George Borg said publication of research carried out at the facility highlighted the standard of work and dedication of the scientists involved. 

“A journal of Nature’s calibre publishes only the world’s best scientific papers, so this is a significant achievement for the facility and its scientists,” said Dr Borg.  

The paper, titled ‘The structural basis for autonomous dimerization of the pre-T-cell antigen receptor’ details the study of the pre-T-cell antigen receptor, a protein complex vital to the function of human T cells, whose role it is to fight foreign objects, when they enter the body.      

The Australian Synchrotron is an advanced x-ray source that generates high brilliance synchrotron light, allowing users to perform scientific and industrial research.

Using the synchrotron’s x-ray capabilities, the research team were able to analyse and manipulate the pre-T-cell antigen receptor in order to better understand how the body deals with infection. Outcomes from the research will support future development of immunology research and potentially the next wave of immune modulating drugs.    
The team involved in studying the pre-T-cell antigen receptor came from the Australian Synchrotron and Monash University, Melbourne. The Australian Synchrotron’s Macromolecular Crystallography and Small and Wide Angle x-ray Scattering research beamlines were used to obtain data essential to the study.   

The Nature publication is arguably the world’s most prestigious and widely read scientific journal. It is also considered to be one of the most highly cited interdisciplinary science journals of its kind. 

Scientists involved in the project said it was important to acknowledge the tireless efforts and dedication of the facility’s scientists, their research partners from Monash University, and the Australian Synchrotron’s technical staff and engineers who were all critical in supporting the research.   

For those interested in reading more about the paper, an abstract summary can be found by visiting: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v467/n7317/full/nature09448.html
 
For more information contact Nick Green at the Australian Synchrotron on (03) 8540 4289 or 0405 825 181.