Professor Rob Parton | Multiscale analysis of cellular membrane function - Institute for Molecular Bioscience

To understand the cell is to understand life

Within the human body, there are 30 trillion cells and 200 different cell types. Understanding how the cell functions is crucial to understanding every human disease. In our group we ask how does a healthy cell function and what goes wrong in a diseased cell?

We study membrane trafficking and cellular organisation, with a focus on domains of the cell surface, novel pathways of endocytosis, and the cellular role of lipid droplets. We are studying the formation and function of cell surface domains called caveolae, the pathways followed by nanoparticles as they enter cells, and the role of lipid droplets in protecting cells against invading pathogens.

Group leader

Professor Rob Parton

Professor Rob Parton

Group Leader, Role of the cell surface in health and disease

Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, IMB

+61 7 3346 2032
r.parton@imb.uq.edu.au
UQ Experts Profile

Key breakthroughs and discoveries

Research Projects

Zebrafish as a model to understand human muscle diseases

Caveolae are abundant in many cell types which must withstand membrane stress. We are using zebrafish and mouse models to understand the role of caveolae in protecting tissues from damage, with a particular focus on muscle and the zebrafish notochord.

Structure and function of a new family of caveolar coat proteins

We are studying the structure of the cavin proteins (with Brett Collins, IMB). These elongated molecules form a unique striated coat on the surface of caveolae. By combining structural biology (X-ray crystallography, cryoelectron microscopy) with functional in vivo assays in genome edited zebrafish we are elucidating structure-function relationships of the cavin proteins.

Novel pathways of endocytosis in cultured cells and in tissues

The plasma membrane that envelops each mammalian cell plays a crucial role in detecting signals for growth or in taking nutrients into the cell. At the same time, the plasma membrane protects the cell against unwanted invaders. Many human disease conditions, including cancer and muscular dystrophy, are caused by dysfunction of the plasma membrane.

Our current research analyses the organisation, dynamics, and functions of this crucial structure – with a particular focus on surface domains termed caveolae, that are linked to signal transduction, endocytosis, and lipid regulation, to understand their role in healthy cells and their aberrant function in disease.

We use a wide range of techniques, including advanced 3D electron microscopy and real-time light microscopy together with animal models of human disease to gain insights into plasma membrane dynamics and domain organisation.

Bioengineering of novel nanovesicles for drug delivery

How are nanoparticles transported across different biological barriers from the bloodstream to their target sites? This project will use tumor xenograft models and live imaging in the zebrafish to uncover the trafficking of nanoparticles in a live organism.

Lipid droplets and immune defence

We recently discovered a novel process whereby eukaryotic cells are able to kill invading pathogens using lipid droplets. This project will use cell-based infection models and live imaging in zebrafish to identify and characterise the proteins involved.

Collaborators and Partners

Publications

Our approach

We study membrane trafficking and cellular organisation, with a focus on domains of the cell surface, novel pathways of endocytosis, and the cellular role of lipid droplets. We are studying the formation and function of cell surface domains called caveolae, the pathways followed by nanoparticles as they enter cells, and the role of lipid droplets in protecting cells against invading pathogens.

Research areas

celullar mebrane function
cell biology

Group Leader

Professor Robert Parton

Group Leader, Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease
ARC Laureate Fellow - Group Leader

Institute for Molecular Bioscience

Researchers

Mr Charles Ferguson

Manager, Scientific Services/Outputs

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Dr Tom Hall

Senior Research Officer

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Dr Ye-Wheen Lim

Higher degree by research (PhD) student & Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Dr Harriet Lo

Research Fellow

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Mr Nick Martel

Research Assistant

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Mr James Rae

Senior Research Assistant

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Dr Yeping Wu

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Dr Thai Duong Luong

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Dr Igor Bonacossa Pereira

Postdoctoral Scientist

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Dr Kerrie-Ann McMahon

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Institute for Molecular Bioscience

Students

Ms Le Nguyen

PhD Student

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Mr Lucas Thor

PhD Student

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Ms Navia John

PhD Student

Institute for Molecular Bioscience
Miss Haolan Sun

PhD Student

Institute for Molecular Bioscience

ARC Laureate Fellowship | Tracking nanoparticles: from cell culture to in vivo delivery

The aim of this ARC Laureate Fellowship is to define the fundamental mechanisms by which a nanoparticle travels from the bloodstream to its site of action inside a cell in vivo. This involves the use of advanced microscopy, novel nanoparticle delivery systems, and unique in vivo systems to dissect how a nanoparticle reaches target cells in a living organism and then reaches its site of action within those cells.

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