Overview
Background
Brett Collins is an NHMRC Career Development Fellow and head of the Molecular Trafficking Lab at UQ's Institute for Molecular Bioscience. He was a lead investigator in the seminal structural studies of AP2, the protein adaptor molecule central to clathrin-mediated endocytosis, and has since defined the molecular basis for the function of critical proteins regulating membrane trafficking and signalling at the endosome organelle. His team is now focused on understanding how discrete molecular interactions between proteins and lipids control these processes in human cells.
Associate Professor Collins was awarded his PhD in 2001 and has published over 75 papers including in Cell, Nature, Nature Structural and Molecular Biology, Developmental Cell, and The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, altogether cited more than 3100 times. He is the recipient of 3 prestigious fellowships, including a previous Career Development Award from the National Health and Medical Research Council and a Future Fellowship from the Australian Research Council, and was awarded the University of Queensland Research Excellence Award in 2008. In 2015 he was awarded the Emerging Leader Award of the ANZSCDB and in 2016 the Merck Research Medal from the ASBMB. He is currently the President of the Queensland Protein Group.
Availability
- Professor Brett Collins is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Macquarie University
Research interests
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Membrane Trafficking
The basis for movement of molecules between cellular organelles essential for cell homeostasis.
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Structural biology
The atomic resolution details of how biological molecules are assembled together and interact with each other.
Research impacts
Trafficking is essential for normal cellular function and is perturbed in many different diseases, notably Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders, pathogen invasion, cancer and inflammation. A/Prof Collins is probing the fundamental mechanisms of membrane transport, through the application of high-resolution structure determination, quantitative biophysical analyses of molecular interactions, and correlated cellular studies of essential protein machineries. Understanding these molecular mechanisms will allow us to determine how their dysfunction contributes to disease and how to target them for new therapies.
Works
Search Professor Brett Collins’s works on UQ eSpace
2012
Journal Article
Insights into the PX (phox-homology) domain and SNX (sorting nexin) protein families: structures, functions and roles in disease
Teasdale, Rohan D. and Collins, Brett M. (2012). Insights into the PX (phox-homology) domain and SNX (sorting nexin) protein families: structures, functions and roles in disease. Biochemical Journal, 441 (Part 1), 39-59. doi: 10.1042/BJ20111226
2011
Journal Article
Phox homology band 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin-like proteins function as molecular scaffolds that interact with cargo receptors and Ras GTPases
Ghai, Rajesh, Mobli, Mehdi, Norwood, Suzanne J., Bugarcic, Andrea, Teasdale, Rohan D., King, Glenn F. and Collins, Brett M. (2011). Phox homology band 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin-like proteins function as molecular scaffolds that interact with cargo receptors and Ras GTPases. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 108 (19), 7763-7768. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1017110108
Featured
2007
Journal Article
A SNARE-adaptor interaction is a new mode of cargo recognition in clathrin-coated vesicles
Miller, Sharon E., Collins, Brett M., McCoy, Airlie J., Robinson, Margaret S. and Owen, David J. (2007). A SNARE-adaptor interaction is a new mode of cargo recognition in clathrin-coated vesicles. Nature, 450 (7169), 570-574. doi: 10.1038/nature06353
2024
Journal Article
Mechanism and regulation of cargo entry into the Commander endosomal recycling pathway
Butkovič, Rebeka, Walker, Alexander P., Healy, Michael D., McNally, Kerrie E., Liu, Meihan, Veenendaal, Tineke, Kato, Kohji, Liv, Nalan, Klumperman, Judith, Collins, Brett M. and Cullen, Peter J. (2024). Mechanism and regulation of cargo entry into the Commander endosomal recycling pathway. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 7180, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50971-0
2024
Journal Article
Revealing the architecture of the membrane-bound Flotillin cage assembly
Collins, Brett M. (2024). Revealing the architecture of the membrane-bound Flotillin cage assembly. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121 (34) e2413203121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2413203121
2024
Journal Article
Structural basis for coupling of the WASH subunit FAM21 with the endosomal SNX27–Retromer complex
Guo, Qian, Chen, Kai-en, Gimenez-Andres, Manuel, Jellett, Adam P., Gao, Ya, Simonetti, Boris, Liu, Meihan, Danson, Chris M., Heesom, Kate J., Cullen, Peter J. and Collins, Brett M. (2024). Structural basis for coupling of the WASH subunit FAM21 with the endosomal SNX27–Retromer complex. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121 (33) e2405041121, e2405041121. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2405041121
2024
Journal Article
PPTC7 antagonizes mitophagy by promoting BNIP3 and NIX degradation via SCFFBXL4
Nguyen-Dien, Giang Thanh, Townsend, Brendan, Kulkarni, Prajakta Gosavi, Kozul, Keri-Lyn, Ooi, Soo Siang, Eldershaw, Denaye N, Weeratunga, Saroja, Liu, Meihan, Jones, Mathew JK, Millard, S Sean, Ng, Dominic CH, Pagano, Michele, Bonfim-Melo, Alexis, Schneider, Tobias, Komander, David, Lazarou, Michael, Collins, Brett M and Pagan, Julia K (2024). PPTC7 antagonizes mitophagy by promoting BNIP3 and NIX degradation via SCFFBXL4. EMBO Reports, 25 (8), 3324-3347. doi: 10.1038/s44319-024-00181-y
2024
Journal Article
Assembly and fission of tubular carriers mediating protein sorting in endosomes
Gopaldass, Navin, Chen, Kai-En, Collins, Brett and Mayer, Andreas (2024). Assembly and fission of tubular carriers mediating protein sorting in endosomes. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 25 (10), 1-19. doi: 10.1038/s41580-024-00746-8
2024
Journal Article
Polarity-dependent expression and localization of secretory glucoamylase mRNA in filamentous fungal cells
Morita, Yuki, Takegawa, Kaoru, Collins, Brett M. and Higuchi, Yujiro (2024). Polarity-dependent expression and localization of secretory glucoamylase mRNA in filamentous fungal cells. Microbiological Research, 282 127653, 127653. doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2024.127653
2024
Journal Article
Interrogation and validation of the interactome of neuronal Munc18-interacting Mint proteins with AlphaFold2
Weeratunga, Saroja, Gormal, Rachel S., Liu, Meihan, Eldershaw, Denaye, Livingstone, Emma K., Malapaka, Anusha, Wallis, Tristan P., Bademosi, Adekunle T., Jiang, Anmin, Healy, Michael D., Meunier, Frederic A. and Collins, Brett M. (2024). Interrogation and validation of the interactome of neuronal Munc18-interacting Mint proteins with AlphaFold2. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 300 (1) 105541, 105541. doi: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105541
2023
Journal Article
The PDLIM family of actin-associated proteins and their emerging role in membrane trafficking
Healy, Michael D. and Collins, Brett M. (2023). The PDLIM family of actin-associated proteins and their emerging role in membrane trafficking. Biochemical Society Transactions, 51 (6), 2005-2016. doi: 10.1042/bst20220804
2023
Journal Article
Copine-6 is a Ca2+ sensor for activity-induced AMPA receptor exocytosis
Tan, Jing Zhi Anson, Jang, Se Eun, Batallas-Borja, Ana, Bhembre, Nishita, Chandra, Mintu, Zhang, Lingrui, Guo, Huimin, Ringuet, Mitchell T., Widagdo, Jocelyn, Collins, Brett M. and Anggono, Victor (2023). Copine-6 is a Ca2+ sensor for activity-induced AMPA receptor exocytosis. Cell Reports, 42 (12) 113460, 1-20. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113460
2023
Journal Article
Caveola mechanotransduction reinforces the cortical cytoskeleton to promote epithelial resilience
Brooks, John W., Tillu, Vikas, Eckert, Julia, Verma, Suzie, Collins, Brett M., Parton, Robert G. and Yap, Alpha S. (2023). Caveola mechanotransduction reinforces the cortical cytoskeleton to promote epithelial resilience. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 34 (12) ar120, 1-14. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e23-05-0163
2023
Conference Publication
Structural basis for coupling of the WASH subunit Fam21 with the SNX27–retromer endosomal trafficking complex
Guo, Qian, Chen, Kai-En, Simonetti, Boris, Gimenez-Andres, Manuel, Cullen, Peter J. and Collins, Brett M. (2023). Structural basis for coupling of the WASH subunit Fam21 with the SNX27–retromer endosomal trafficking complex. XXVI IUCr Congress, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 22-29 August 2023. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1107/s2053273323086837
2023
Journal Article
Discovery and structural characterization of novel nanobodies targeting the Cavin1 complex essential for forming caveola membrane vesicles
Gao, Ya, Tillu, Vikas A., Wu, Yeping, Rae, James, Hall, Thomas E., Chen, Kai-En, Weeratunga, Saroja, Guo, Qian, Parton, Robert G. and Collins, Brett M. (2023). Discovery and structural characterization of novel nanobodies targeting the Cavin1 complex essential for forming caveola membrane vesicles. Acta Crystallographica. Section A: Foundations and Advances, 79 (a2), C939-C939. doi: 10.1107/s2053273323086825
2023
Journal Article
Early proteostasis of caveolins synchronizes trafficking, degradation, and oligomerization to prevent toxic aggregation
Morales-Paytuví, Frederic, Fajardo, Alba, Ruiz-Mirapeix, Carles, Rae, James, Tebar, Francesc, Bosch, Marta, Enrich, Carlos, Collins, Brett M., Parton, Robert G. and Pol, Albert (2023). Early proteostasis of caveolins synchronizes trafficking, degradation, and oligomerization to prevent toxic aggregation. Journal of Cell Biology, 222 (9) e202204020. doi: 10.1083/jcb.202204020
2023
Journal Article
Presynaptic targeting of botulinum neurotoxin type A requires a tripartite PSG‐Syt1 ‐ SV2 plasma membrane nanocluster for synaptic vesicle entry
Joensuu, Merja, Syed, Parnayan, Saber, Saber H., Lanoue, Vanessa, Wallis, Tristan P., Rae, James, Blum, Ailisa, Gormal, Rachel S., Small, Christopher, Sanders, Shanley, Jiang, Anmin, Mahrhold, Stefan, Krez, Nadja, Cousin, Michael A., Cooper‐White, Ruby, Cooper‐White, Justin J., Collins, Brett M., Parton, Robert G., Balistreri, Giuseppe, Rummel, Andreas and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2023). Presynaptic targeting of botulinum neurotoxin type A requires a tripartite PSG‐Syt1 ‐ SV2 plasma membrane nanocluster for synaptic vesicle entry. The EMBO Journal, 42 (13) e112095, e112095. doi: 10.15252/embj.2022112095
2023
Journal Article
Structure of the endosomal Commander complex linked to Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome
Healy, Michael D., McNally, Kerrie E., Butkovič, Rebeka, Chilton, Molly, Kato, Kohji, Sacharz, Joanna, McConville, Calum, Moody, Edmund R. R., Shaw, Shrestha, Planelles-Herrero, Vicente J., Yadav, Sathish K. N., Ross, Jennifer, Borucu, Ufuk, Palmer, Catherine S., Chen, Kai-En, Croll, Tristan I., Hall, Ryan J., Caruana, Nikeisha J., Ghai, Rajesh, Nguyen, Thi H. D., Heesom, Kate J., Saitoh, Shinji, Berger, Imre, Schaffitzel, Christiane, Williams, Tom A., Stroud, David A., Derivery, Emmanuel, Collins, Brett M. and Cullen, Peter J. (2023). Structure of the endosomal Commander complex linked to Ritscher-Schinzel syndrome. Cell, 186 (10), 2219-2237.e29. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.04.003
2023
Journal Article
FBXL4 suppresses mitophagy by restricting the accumulation of NIX and BNIP3 mitophagy receptors
Nguyen‐Dien, Giang Thanh, Kozul, Keri‐Lyn, Cui, Yi, Townsend, Brendan, Kulkarni, Prajakta Gosavi, Ooi, Soo Siang, Marzio, Antonio, Carrodus, Nissa, Zuryn, Steven, Pagano, Michele, Parton, Robert G, Lazarou, Michael, Millard, S Sean, Taylor, Robert W, Collins, Brett M, Jones, Mathew JK and Pagan, Julia K (2023). FBXL4 suppresses mitophagy by restricting the accumulation of NIX and BNIP3 mitophagy receptors. The EMBO Journal, 42 (13) e112767, e112767. doi: 10.15252/embj.2022112767
2022
Conference Publication
Peripheral and CSF inflammatory biomarkers after COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant individuals
Rajasekaran, Vignesh, Gigase, Frederieke, Smith, Emma, Collins, Brett, Katz, Daniel, Hamburger, Joshua, Ramirez-Zamudio, Andres, Janevic, Teresa, Spicer, Julie, Pietrzak, Robert, Jessel, Rebecca, Bergink, Veerle, Dolan, Siobhan M., McClure, Margaret, De Witte, Lotje and Perez-Rodriguez, M. Mercedes (2022). Peripheral and CSF inflammatory biomarkers after COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant individuals. 28th Annual Meeting of the PsychoNeuroImmunology-Research-Society, Zurich Switzerland, Jun 15-18, 2022. SAN DIEGO: ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2022.07.144
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Brett Collins is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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High resolution structural studies of the Commander protein complex essential for intracellular trafficking
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Developing synthetic nanobodies for high resolution structural studies
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Structure and function of endosomal sorting nexin proteins.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Control of innate immunity by mitochondria and lipid droplets
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jennifer Stow
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Doctor Philosophy
Studying the role of the Retromer trafficking complex as a hub for regulating Rab GTPases at the endosome.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kevin Chen
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Doctor Philosophy
Studying the role of Calsyntenin-1 as a novel chaperone for the amyloid precursor protein.
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Structural and cellular analysis of Rab GTPases for drug development in cancer.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jennifer Stow, Dr Quan Nguyen
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Caveolar Proteins in Cancer
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kerrie-Ann McMahon, Dr Harriet Lo, Professor Robert Parton
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Doctor Philosophy
Targeting bacterial cell envelope coordination for antibiotic drug discovery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Waldemar Vollmer
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Doctor Philosophy
Development of peptide-based inhibitors for crop protection
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Conan Wang, Professor David Craik
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Doctor Philosophy
Characterization of blood-brain barrier nutrient transporters
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rosemary Cater
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Doctor Philosophy
Regulation of sorting nexin 27 by protein phosphorylation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Victor Anggono
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Structural Studies of Cavin Complex Formation and Interaction with Regulatory Proteins
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Structural Characterisation of Endosomal Trafficking Protein Sorting Nexin 27
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kevin Chen
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Screening ligand-binding domains for rapid biosensor design and testing
Principal Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and Functional Characterisation of the Commander Trafficking Complex and Accessory Proteins
Principal Advisor
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Rational computational design of protein binders for biosensor and therapeutic applications
Principal Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
E. coli Cell-Free Platform for Production of Complex Peptides and Proteins
Principal Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and functional studies of suppressor of copper sensitivity proteins from Proteus mirabilis
Principal Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of proteins essential to vesicle membrane fusion
Principal Advisor
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Structural studies of sorting nexin proteins from two distinct subfamilies
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rohan Teasdale
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Structural basis of protein cargo transport by sorting nexins
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rohan Teasdale
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Structure-function studies of the PX-FERM proteins in endosomal trafficking
Principal Advisor
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Structural Basis for Assembly and Membrane Modulating Properties of the Retromer Protein Coat Complex
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Rohan Teasdale
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Protein Mediated Membrane Fusion
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Mark
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation and roles of the postsynaptic Ca2+ sensor Copine-6 in primary neurons
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Victor Anggono
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Dynamic re-organisation of Munc18-1 and syntaxin-1A nanodomains on the plasma membrane of neurosecretory cells during exocytosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Frederic Meunier
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Dynamic Reorganization of Presynaptic Proteins During Neurotransmission and Neuronal Degeneration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jürgen Götz, Professor Frederic Meunier
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and functional characterisation of the cavin membrane coat complex
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robert Parton
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Towards the development of a prokaryotic system for the in vitro study of caveola formation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robert Parton
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Analysing the Mechanism and Regulation of Vinculin in Cadherin Adhesions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Novel approaches for understanding prenylation and Rho GTPase membrane targeting
Associate Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Role of Munc18-1 in regulating neuroexocytosis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Coulson, Professor Frederic Meunier
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Brett Collins directly for media enquiries about:
- Alzheimer's
- cancer
- Cryoelectron microscopy
- inflammation
- inflammatory disease
- muscular dystrophy
- Parkinson's
- x-ray crystallography
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