Overview
Background
Dr Ariotti is a Senior Research Fellow and Group Leader at the University of Queensland, Australia. Nick's Lab is focused on using cell biology, structural biology, and biochemistry to understand the molecular mechanisms of endocytosis including the organization of cargo for the transport and packaging of proteins into cells and, specialises in how defects in protein trafficking, and plasma membrane organisation can result in human diseases. He completed his PhD in 2013 at the University of Queensland. He then spent 4 years postdoctoral researcher at the Institute for Molecular Biosciences in Rob Parton’s laboratory where he focused on developing and applying correlative light and electron microscopy approaches to better understand endocytosis. In 2017, Dr Ariotti moved to the Electron Microscope Unit at UNSW to serve as the Associate Director of Biological EM. He spent 5 years at the Electron Microscope Unit establishing Cryo-EM and cryogenic-Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy. In 2022, Dr Ariotti returned to the IMB at UQ as an independent research group leader with a focus on developing and applying novel cryogenic correlative approaches to uncover protein structures in situ.
Availability
- Dr Nicholas Ariotti is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science (Honours), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Membrane microdomain organisation in the endosome and on the cell surface
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The structure, composition, and function of caveolae
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Development of advanced Electron Microscopy techniques to answer questions in cell biology
Research impacts
Nick has an exceptional track record of producing high-quality transformative research that challenges long-held hypotheses and breaks new ground. He has secured competitive external funding (16 competitive grant successes), an outstanding publication profile (>75 publications; > 5000 citations), a strong record of supervision, invitations to speak at national and international conferences and a dedication to contributing to the advancement of cell biology research and electron microscopy through service on various national and international committees and associations.
He haspublished in journals such as Nature, Cell, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Cell Biology, Nature Immunology, Nature Materials, Nature Communications, Developmental Cell, PLoS Biology, The Journal of Cell Biology, Current Biology and EMBO Journal highlighting the impact of his research.
These interests have resulted in significant high-quality publications in three related fields:
i) The structure, composition, and function of caveolae:
ii) The organsiation of membrane microdomains and signalling molecules on the cell surface and within endosomes:
ii) Development of advanced Electron Microscopy techniques to answer questions in cell biology.
Works
Search Professor Nicholas Ariotti’s works on UQ eSpace
2015
Journal Article
Cavin family proteins and the assembly of caveolae
Kovtun, Oleksiy, Tillu, Vikas A., Ariotti, Nicholas, Parton, Robert G. and Collins, Brett M. (2015). Cavin family proteins and the assembly of caveolae. Journal of Cell Science, 128 (7), 1269-1278. doi: 10.1242/jcs.167866
2014
Journal Article
Structural insights into the organization of the cavin membrane coat complex
Kovtun, Oleksiy, Tilu, Vikas A., Jung, WooRam, Leneva, Natalya, Ariotti, Nicholas, Chaudhary, Natasha, Mandyam, Ramya A., Ferguson, Charles, Morgan, Garry P., Johnston, Wayne A., Harrop, Stephen J., Alexandrov, Kirill, Parton, Robert G. and Collins, Brett M. (2014). Structural insights into the organization of the cavin membrane coat complex. Developmental Cell, 31 (4), 405-419. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.10.002
2014
Conference Publication
Structural dissection of architecture of caveolar protein coat
Kovtun, O., Tillu, V., Jung, W., Leneva, N., Ariotti, N., Alexandrov, K., Parton, R. and Collins, B. (2014). Structural dissection of architecture of caveolar protein coat. FEBS EMBO 2014 Conference, Paris, France, 30 August - 4 September, 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
2014
Journal Article
Caveolae regulate the nanoscale organization of the plasma membrane to remotely control Ras signaling
Ariotti, Nicholas, Fernández-Rojo, Manuel, Zhou, Yong, Hill, Michelle M., Rodkey, Travis L., Inder, Kerry L., Tanner, Lukas B., Wenk, Markus R., Hancock, John F. and Parton, Robert G. (2014). Caveolae regulate the nanoscale organization of the plasma membrane to remotely control Ras signaling. Journal of Cell Biology, 204 (5), 777-792. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201307055
2014
Journal Article
Single-molecule analysis reveals self assembly and nanoscale segregation of two distinct cavin subcomplexes on caveolae
Gambin, Yann, Ariotti, Nicholas, McMahon, Kerrie-Ann, Bastiani, Michele, Sierecki, Emma, Kovtun, Oleksiy, Polinkovsky, Mark E., Magenau, Astrid, Jung, WooRam, Okano, Satomi, Zhou, Yong, Leneva, Natalya, Mureev, Sergey, Johnston, Wayne, Gaus, Katharina, Hancock, John F., Collins, Brett M., Alexandrov, Kirill and Parton, Robert G. (2014). Single-molecule analysis reveals self assembly and nanoscale segregation of two distinct cavin subcomplexes on caveolae. eLIFE, 2014 (3) e01434, e01434.1-e01434.18. doi: 10.7554/eLife.01434
2014
Journal Article
Galectin-3 drives glycosphingolipid-dependent biogenesis of clathrin-independent carriers
Lakshminarayan, Ramya, Wunder, Christian, Becken, Ulrike, Howes, Mark T., Benzing, Carola, Arumugam, Senthil, Sales, Susanne, Ariotti, Nicholas, Chambon, Valérie, Lamaze, Christophe, Loew, Damarys, Shevchenko, Andrej, Gaus, Katharina, Parton, Robert G. and Johannes, Ludger (2014). Galectin-3 drives glycosphingolipid-dependent biogenesis of clathrin-independent carriers. Nature Cell Biology, 16 (6), 592-603. doi: 10.1038/ncb2970
2013
Journal Article
Signal integration by lipid-mediated spatial cross talk between Ras nanoclusters
Zhou, Yong, Liang, Hong, Rodkey, Travis, Ariotti, Nicholas, Parton, Robert G. and Hancock, John F. (2013). Signal integration by lipid-mediated spatial cross talk between Ras nanoclusters. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 34 (5), 862-876. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01227-13
2013
Journal Article
SnapShot: caveolae, caveolins, and cavins
Ariotti, Nicholas and Parton Robert G. (2013). SnapShot: caveolae, caveolins, and cavins. Cell, 154 (3), 704-705. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.07.009
2013
Journal Article
Cell-to-cell heterogeneity in lipid droplets suggests a mechanism to reduce lipotoxicity
Herms, Albert, Bosch, Marta, Ariotti, Nicholas, Reddy, Babu J. N., Fajardo, Alba, Fernandez-Vidal, Andrea, Alvarez-Guaita, Anna, Fernandez-Rojo, Manuel Alejandro, Rentero, Carles, Tebar, Francesc, Enrich, Carlos, Geli, Maria-Isabel, Parton, Robert G., Gross, Steven P. and Pol, Albert (2013). Cell-to-cell heterogeneity in lipid droplets suggests a mechanism to reduce lipotoxicity. Current Biology, 23 (15), 1489-1496. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2013.06.032
2012
Other Outputs
A structural and functional characterisation of caveolae
Ariotti, Nicholas Richard (2012). A structural and functional characterisation of caveolae. PhD Thesis, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland.
2012
Journal Article
Constitutive formation of caveolae in a bacterium
Walser, Piers, Ariotti, Nicholas, Howes, Mark, Ferguson, Charles, Webb, Richard, Schwudke, Dominik, Leneva, Natalya, Cho, Kwang-Jin, Cooper, Leanne, Rae, James, Floetenmeyer, Matthias, Oorschot, Viola M. J., Skoglund, Ulf, Simons, Kai, Hancock, John F. and Parton, Robert G. (2012). Constitutive formation of caveolae in a bacterium. Cell, 150 (4), 752-763. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2012.06.042
2012
Journal Article
Design and application of in vivo FRET biosensors to identify protein prenylation and nanoclustering inhibitors
Kohnke, Monika, Schmitt, Steven, Ariotti, Nicholas, Piggott, Andrew, Parton, Robert G., Lacey, Ernest, Capon, Robert, Alexandrov, Kirill and Abankwa, Daniel (2012). Design and application of in vivo FRET biosensors to identify protein prenylation and nanoclustering inhibitors. Chemistry and Biology, 19 (7), 866-874. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2012.05.019
2012
Journal Article
Postlipolytic insulin-dependent remodeling of micro lipid droplets in adipocytes
Ariotti, Nicholas, Samantha Murphy, Hamilton, Nicholas A., Wu, Lizhen, Green, Kathryn, Nicole Schieber, Li, Peng, Martin, Sally and Parton, Robert G. (2012). Postlipolytic insulin-dependent remodeling of micro lipid droplets in adipocytes. Molecular Biology of The Cell, 23 (10), 1826-1837. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E11-10-0847
2011
Journal Article
High-resolution mapping reveals topologically distinct cellular pools of phosphatidylserine
Fairn, Gregory D., Schieber, Nicole L., Ariotti, Nicholas, Murphy, Samantha, Kuerschner, Lars, Webb, Richard I., Grinstein, Sergio and Parton, Robert G. (2011). High-resolution mapping reveals topologically distinct cellular pools of phosphatidylserine. Journal of Cell Biology, 194 (2), 257-275. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201012028
2010
Journal Article
Epidermal growth factor receptor activation remodels the plasma membrane lipid environment to induce nanocluster formation
Ariotti, Nicholas, Liang, Hong, Xu, Yufei, Zhang, Yueqiang, Yonekubo, Yoshiya, Inder, Kerry, Du, Guangwei, Parton, Robert G., Hancock, John F. and Plowman, Sarah J. (2010). Epidermal growth factor receptor activation remodels the plasma membrane lipid environment to induce nanocluster formation. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 30 (15), 3795-3804. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01615-09
2008
Journal Article
K-Ras Nanoclustering is Subverted by Overexpression of the Scaffold Protein Galectin-3
Shalom-Feuerstein, R., Plowman, S. J., Rotblat, B., Ariotti, N., Tian, T., Hancock, J. F. and Kloog, Y. (2008). K-Ras Nanoclustering is Subverted by Overexpression of the Scaffold Protein Galectin-3. Cancer Research, 68 (16), 6608-6616. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-1117
2008
Journal Article
Electrostatic interactions positively regulate K-Ras nanocluster formation and function
Plowman, S. J., Ariotti, N., Goodall, A., Parton, R. G. and Hancock, J. F. (2008). Electrostatic interactions positively regulate K-Ras nanocluster formation and function. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 28 (13), 4377-4385. doi: 10.1128/MCB.00050-08
2008
Journal Article
A novel switch region regulated H-ras membrane orientation and signal output
Abankwa, Daniel, Hanzal-Bayer, Michael, Ariotti, Nicolas, Plowman, Sarah J., Gorfe, Alemayehu A, Parton, Robert G., McCammon, J. Andrew and Hancock, John F. (2008). A novel switch region regulated H-ras membrane orientation and signal output. The EMBO journal, 27 (5), 727-735. doi: 10.1038/emboj.2008.10
2007
Conference Publication
Protozoan symbionts in hindgut-fermenting mammals
O'Donoghue, P. J., Yuen, S. Y. and Ariotti, N. R. (2007). Protozoan symbionts in hindgut-fermenting mammals. Australian Society for Parasitology Annual Scientific Meeting, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 8-11 July 2007.
2006
Conference Publication
Unique endosymbiotic ciliates of wombats in Australia
Ariotti, N. R. and O'Donoghue, P J (2006). Unique endosymbiotic ciliates of wombats in Australia. ASP & ARC/NHMRC Network for Parasitology Annual Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 2-5 July 2006.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Nicholas Ariotti is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
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Structural and Molecular Characterisation of Chikungunya Virus Replication Organelles
The Ariotti Group applies correlative microscopy to investigate the replication cycle of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a single-stranded, positive-sense alphavirus. CHIKV forms distinct plasma membrane–associated RNA replication organelles termed spherules, yet the identity and role of host factors recruited to these domains remain poorly understood. This project will develop new tools to selectively label and target CHIKV recplication organelle enriched sites for high-resolution and molecular analyses. These studies aim to elucidate how CHIKV co-opts host factors for viral amplification.
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Structural Analysis of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in situ
The Ariotti Lab has established a novel structural pipeline integrating cell-free protein expression with cryo-correlative light and electron tomography (cryo-CLEM) and sub-tomogram averaging. This platform has already yielded the first full-length structure of the filamentous form of ASC (Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD) (bioRxiv). This project will extend will investigate receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) Despite their critical roles in signalling, the endosomal organisation of RTKs during protein trafficking remains poorly understood.
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Tools for whole animal correlative targeting of cells of interest
In collaboration with the Parton Group (IMB, University of Queensland), this project will advance correlative imaging approaches to investigate zebrafish macrophages during bacterial infection. The Parton Group have developed infection assays and high-throughput correlative microscopy workflows linking light microscopy with X-ray microscopy and volume electron imaging. The Ariotti Group will focus on developing automated multimodal correlation pipelines to achieve accurate, unbiased, and rapid three-dimensional registration across imaging modalities.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Dissecting the bacterial cell envelope for antibiotic drug discovery
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Rob Capon, Professor Waldemar Vollmer
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Doctor Philosophy
Functional Analysis of Caveolae
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Harriet Lo, Professor Robert Parton
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Doctor Philosophy
Multi-modal, high-resolution analysis of neural tube development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mel White
Completed supervision
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Cell-free caveola formation as a system for high throughput interaction analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robert Parton
Media
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