Overview
Background
Dr Melanie White heads the Dynamics of Morphogenesis Lab at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB), University of Queensland and is an ARC Future Fellow. She completed a PhD in Neuroscience at University College London followed by postdoctoral research at The University of Edinburgh. During this time Mel engineered viruses to modulate gene expression in the brain to investigate neuronal function and as a therapeutic approach for neurodegenerative disease. Her work was published in Neuron and PNAS, featured in Nature Reviews Neuroscience and received extensive international media coverage (including the BBC and The Guardian).
In 2012 Mel switched fields to apply quantitative imaging in developmental biology. Her work revealed key mechanisms driving the earliest morphogenetic events in mammalian embryogenesis and was published in Cell, Science, Nature Cell Biology, Developmental Cell and Nature Protocols. Her research was featured on the cover of multiple journals including Cell and she was awarded the inaugural American Society for Cell Biology Porter Prize for Research Excellence (2018).
In 2020, Mel joined the IMB where she will combine her passion for neuroscience and developmental biology to investigate the dynamics of neural tube morphogenesis.
Research overview
The brain and the spinal cord control most of the functions of the body and the mind, yet the dynamics of how they first form is poorly understood. Both structures arise from a common precursor, the neural tube, which forms very early in embryonic development. To generate the forces that sculpt and shape the neural tube, changes in cellular architecture must be tightly coordinated in space and time. These morphological rearrangements occur concurrently with biochemical signalling pathways that specify early neural cell fates.
Our research aims to understand how cellular properties and transcriptional regulators interact with mechanical forces in real time to direct vertebrate neural tube formation and neural cell fate specification. We study the dynamics of neural tube formation by applying advanced imaging technologies in transgenic avian models and human stem cell models.
Availability
- Dr Mel White is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of London
Research impacts
Incorrect formation of the neural tube leads to severe congenital malformations called neural tube defects (NTDs). These are amongst the most common birth defects affecting approximately 300,000 babies worldwide every year. Despite their prevalence, mechanisms causing NTDs in humans remain largely unknown. Our research aims to understand the molecular, cellular and mechanical processes directing neural tube formation. This knowledge is essential for determining the specific causes of NTDs and may provide potential avenues for diagnostic testing and future therapeutic treatments.
Works
Search Professor Mel White’s works on UQ eSpace
Featured
2024
Journal Article
A Lifeact-EGFP quail for studying actin dynamics in vivo
Alvarez, Yanina D., van der Spuy, Marise, Wang, Jian Xiong, Noordstra, Ivar, Tan, Siew Zhuan, Carroll, Murron, Yap, Alpha S., Serralbo, Olivier and White, Melanie D. (2024). A Lifeact-EGFP quail for studying actin dynamics in vivo. Journal of Cell Biology, 223 (9) ARTN e202404066. doi: 10.1083/jcb.202404066
Featured
2024
Journal Article
Perspectives in collective cell migration – moving forward
Stehbens, Samantha J., Scarpa, Elena and White, Melanie D. (2024). Perspectives in collective cell migration – moving forward. Journal of Cell Science, 137 (12) jcs261549. doi: 10.1242/jcs.261549
Featured
2023
Journal Article
The cellular dynamics of neural tube formation
van der Spuy, Marise, Wang, Jian Xiong, Kociszewska, Dagmara and White, Melanie D. (2023). The cellular dynamics of neural tube formation. Biochemical Society Transactions, 51 (1), 343-352. doi: 10.1042/bst20220871
Featured
2021
Journal Article
Mechanical forces in avian embryo development
Wang, Jian Xiong and White, Melanie D. (2021). Mechanical forces in avian embryo development. Seminars in Cell and Developmental Biology, 120, 133-146. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.06.001
Featured
2020
Journal Article
Specification of the first mammalian cell lineages in vivo and in vitro
White, Melanie D. and Plachta, Nicolas (2020). Specification of the first mammalian cell lineages in vivo and in vitro. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology, 12 (4) a035634, a035634. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a035634
Featured
2018
Journal Article
Instructions for assembling the early mammalian embryo
White, Melanie D., Zenker, Jennifer, Bissiere, Stephanie and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). Instructions for assembling the early mammalian embryo. Developmental Cell, 45 (6), 667-679. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.05.013
Featured
2018
Journal Article
Expanding actin rings zipper the mouse embryo for blastocyst formation
Zenker, Jennifer, White, Melanie D., Gasnier, Maxime, Alvarez, Yanina D., Lim, Hui Yi Grace, Bissiere, Stephanie, Biro, Maté and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). Expanding actin rings zipper the mouse embryo for blastocyst formation. Cell, 173 (3), 776-791.e17. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.02.035
Featured
2018
Journal Article
In vivo imaging of single mammalian cells in development and disease
White, Melanie D., Zhao, Ziqing W. and Plachta, Nicolas (2018). In vivo imaging of single mammalian cells in development and disease. Trends in molecular medicine, 24 (3), 278-293. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2018.01.003
Featured
2017
Journal Article
A microtubule-organizing center directing intracellular transport in the early mouse embryo
Zenker, J., White, M. D., Templin, R. M., Parton, R. G., Thorn-Seshold, O., Bissiere, S. and Plachta, N. (2017). A microtubule-organizing center directing intracellular transport in the early mouse embryo. Science, 357 (6354), 925-928. doi: 10.1126/science.aam9335
Featured
2016
Journal Article
Long-lived binding of Sox2 to DNA predicts cell fate in the four-cell mouse embryo
White, Melanie D., Angiolini, Juan F., Alvarez, Yanina D., Kaur, Gurpreet, Zhao, Ziqing W., Mocskos, Esteban, Bruno, Luciana, Bissiere, Stephanie, Levi, Valeria and Plachta, Nicolas (2016). Long-lived binding of Sox2 to DNA predicts cell fate in the four-cell mouse embryo. Cell, 165 (1), 75-87. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.02.032
Featured
2015
Journal Article
Cortical tension allocates the first inner cells of the mammalian embryo
Samarage, Chaminda R., White, Melanie D., Álvarez, Yanina D., Fierro-González, Juan Carlos, Henon, Yann, Jesudason, Edwin C., Bissiere, Stephanie, Fouras, Andreas and Plachta, Nicolas (2015). Cortical tension allocates the first inner cells of the mammalian embryo. Developmental Cell, 34 (4) 3367, 435-47. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.07.004
Featured
2013
Journal Article
Cadherin-dependent filopodia control preimplantation embryo compaction
Fierro-González, Juan Carlos, White, Melanie D., Silva, Juan Carlos and Plachta, Nicolas (2013). Cadherin-dependent filopodia control preimplantation embryo compaction. Nature Cell Biology, 15 (12), 1424-33. doi: 10.1038/ncb2875
2024
Journal Article
Compression-dependent microtubule reinforcement enables cells to navigate confined environments
Ju, Robert J., Falconer, Alistair D., Schmidt, Christanny J., Martinez, Marco A. Enriquez, Dean, Kevin M., Fiolka, Reto P., Sester, David P., Nobis, Max, Timpson, Paul, Lomakin, Alexis J., Danuser, Gaudenz, White, Melanie D., Haass, Nikolas K., Oelz, Dietmar B. and Stehbens, Samantha J. (2024). Compression-dependent microtubule reinforcement enables cells to navigate confined environments. Nature Cell Biology. doi: 10.1038/s41556-024-01476-x
2024
Journal Article
The activity of early-life gene regulatory elements is hijacked in aging through pervasive AP-1-linked chromatin opening
Patrick, Ralph, Naval-Sanchez, Marina, Deshpande, Nikita, Huang, Yifei, Zhang, Jingyu, Chen, Xiaoli, Yang, Ying, Tiwari, Kanupriya, Esmaeili, Mohammadhossein, Tran, Minh, Mohamed, Amin R., Wang, Binxu, Xia, Di, Ma, Jun, Bayliss, Jacqueline, Wong, Kahlia, Hun, Michael L., Sun, Xuan, Cao, Benjamin, Cottle, Denny L., Catterall, Tara, Barzilai-Tutsch, Hila, Troskie, Robin-Lee, Chen, Zhian, Wise, Andrea F., Saini, Sheetal, Soe, Ye Mon, Kumari, Snehlata, Sweet, Matthew J. ... Nefzger, Christian M. (2024). The activity of early-life gene regulatory elements is hijacked in aging through pervasive AP-1-linked chromatin opening. Cell Metabolism, 36 (8), 1858-1881.e23. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.06.006
2024
Journal Article
Wnt dose escalation during the exit from pluripotency identifies tranilast as a regulator of cardiac mesoderm
Wu, Zhixuan, Shen, Sophie, Mizikovsky, Dalia, Cao, Yuanzhao, Naval-Sanchez, Marina, Tan, Siew Zhuan, Alvarez, Yanina D., Sun, Yuliangzi, Chen, Xiaoli, Zhao, Qiongyi, Kim, Daniel, Yang, Pengyi, Hill, Timothy A., Jones, Alun, Fairlie, David P., Pébay, Alice, Hewitt, Alex W., Tam, Patrick P.L., White, Melanie D., Nefzger, Christian M. and Palpant, Nathan J. (2024). Wnt dose escalation during the exit from pluripotency identifies tranilast as a regulator of cardiac mesoderm. Developmental Cell, 59 (6), 705-722.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.019
2024
Book Chapter
Early human embryo development revealed by static imaging
Alvarez, Yanina D. and White, Melanie D. (2024). Early human embryo development revealed by static imaging. Textbook of assisted reproductive techniques. (pp. 330-340) edited by David K. Gardner, Ariel Weissman, Colin M. Howles and Zeev Shoham. Boca Raton, FL, United States: CRC Press. doi: 10.1201/9781003268598-31
2023
Journal Article
Inferring cell diversity in single cell data using consortium-scale epigenetic data as a biological anchor for cell identity
Sun, Yuliangzi, Shim, Woo Jun, Shen, Sophie, Sinniah, Enakshi, Pham, Duy, Su, Zezhuo, Mizikovsky, Dalia, White, Melanie D., Ho, Joshua W. K., Nguyen, Quan, Bodén, Mikael and Palpant, Nathan J (2023). Inferring cell diversity in single cell data using consortium-scale epigenetic data as a biological anchor for cell identity. Nucleic Acids Research, 51 (11), e62-e62. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkad307
2017
Journal Article
Quantifying transcription factor-DNA binding in single cells in vivo with photoactivatable fluorescence correlation spectroscopy
Zhao, Ziqing Winston, White, Melanie D., Alvarez, Yanina D., Zenker, Jennifer, Bissiere, Stephanie and Plachta, Nicolas (2017). Quantifying transcription factor-DNA binding in single cells in vivo with photoactivatable fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. Nature Protocols, 12 (7), 1458-1471. doi: 10.1038/nprot.2017.051
2017
Journal Article
How cells change shape and position in the early mammalian embryo
White, Melanie D., Zenker, Jennifer, Bissiere, Stephanie and Plachta, Nicolas (2017). How cells change shape and position in the early mammalian embryo. Current Opinion in Cell Biology, 44, 7-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2016.11.002
2017
Conference Publication
A Microtubule Organizing Center Directing Intracellular Transport in the Early Mouse Embryo
Zenker, J., White, M. D., Templin, R. M., Parton, R. G., Thorn-Seshold, O., Bissiere, S. and Plachta, N. (2017). A Microtubule Organizing Center Directing Intracellular Transport in the Early Mouse Embryo. ASCB/EMBO Meeting, Philadelphia Pa United States, 2-6 December 2017. Bethesda, MD United States: American Society for Cell Biology.
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Mel White is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
How remodelling of actomyosin networks drives neural tube formation in the living embryo.
The brain and the spinal cord control most of the functions of the body and the mind, yet the dynamics of how they first form is poorly understood. Both structures arise from a common precursor, the neural tube, which forms very early in embryonic development. Changes in cellular architecture must be tightly coordinated in space and time to generate the forces that sculpt and shape the neural tube. These morphogenetic forces are dependent on the correct regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and many actin-related proteins have been associated with neural tube defects. This PhD project will use quantitative live imaging of developing avian embryos to understand how actin networks are remodelled at the subcellular level to shape the neural tube and which are the key molecules controlling this process.
Expressions of interest from prospective postgraduate students are welcome. For information on available research higher degree projects, please email melanie.white@imb.uq.edu.au with the following: (1) CV, including a summary of academic qualifications, work and research experience, and publication list; (2) studies report or academic transcript for undergraduate and honours degree(s); and (3) a letter outlining your research interests and career aspirations.
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How do tissue-scale forces direct neural tube formation in the living embryo.
Most tissues and organs are built using a toolbox of common changes in cellular properties such as polarity, adhesion, migration and division, combined with alterations in mechanical forces at the cellular and tissue scales. Not only do cellular properties drive mechanical events within tissues, but mechanical forces also feedback to alter gene expression, signalling pathways and cellular behaviours. These reciprocal interactions are integral to development. This PhD project will utilise high-resolution long-term imaging to link events at the cellular scale to tissue scale forces during neural tube formation in developing avian embryos. Use of tissue tectonics analyses and quantification of cellular behaviours will reveal how different cellular events contribute to morphogenesis of the neural tube. Combining spatiotemporal manipulation of force generation with live cell tracking will demonstrate how the regulation of mechanical forces affects subsequent cell fate and neural tube morphogenesis.
Expressions of interest from prospective postgraduate students are welcome. For information on available research higher degree projects, please email melanie.white@imb.uq.edu.au with the following: (1) CV, including a summary of academic qualifications, work and research experience, and publication list; (2) studies report or academic transcript for undergraduate and honours degree(s); and (3) a letter outlining your research interests and career aspirations.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
How the interaction between blood flow forces and ECM controls vessel assembly and function during development
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Anne Lagendijk
-
Doctor Philosophy
Revealing how the junctional neural tube forms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap, Dr Yanina Alvarez
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Doctor Philosophy
Revealing the mechanobiology of neural tube formation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robert Parton, Dr Yanina Alvarez
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Doctor Philosophy
THE ROLE OF EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX AND FOCAL ADHESION DYNAMICS IN STEM CELL COMMITMENT
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alan Rowan
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Cytoskeletal-Golgi cross talk in cellular pathfinding in crowded tissue environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Robert Parton, Dr Samantha Stehbens
Media
Enquiries
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