
Overview
Background
Our research focuses on understanding how cells work and what goes wrong in disease. We are studying the role of cellular organelles in defence against pathogens, the molecular changes underlying muscle disease, and optimising methods to deliver therapeutics to specific cell types in whole animals.
Professor Robert Parton is an ARC Laureate Fellow, a group leader in the IMB Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease, and Deputy Director of the Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and an Associate Member of EMBO.
Availability
- Professor Robert Parton is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Edinburgh
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Leicester
Research interests
-
Multiscale analysis of cellular membrane function
Each of the cells that make up the organs of our bodies is enclosed by a plasma membrane, a complex sheet made up of lipids (fats) and proteins. The plasma membrane plays a crucial role in detecting signals for growth or in taking nutrients up into the cell. At the same time the plasma membrane protects the cell against unwanted invaders and must remain intact in the face of considerable forces. The properties of the plasma membrane rely on the specialisation of the plasma membrane into regions of specific function. The Parton group are studying caveolae, a specialised domain of the cell surface with a distinct structure (see Figure). Caveolae have been implicated in the regulation of cell growth and in maintaining the balance of lipids in the cell. Defective caveolae in human patients are associated with cancer, lipodystrophies (lack of fat tissue), muscular dystrophy, and cardiac disease. We have shown that caveolae can respond to forces on the plasma membrane by flattening and releasing proteins into the cell. In addition, we have shown that caveolae can respond to other signals, such as oxidative stress. We are now studying how these functions of caveolae are disrupted in human disease conditions. A significant goal of the group is to move from cell culture systems to studying cell biology in the whole organism. For this we extensively use the zebrafish, Danio rerio, as a model system. We are interested in using these systems to dissect how nanoparticles can be targeted to specific cell types, such as cancer cells. Finally, we have a major interest in the way that cells defend against invading pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses. We have shown that cellular organelles that store fat, called lipid droplets, can kill invading bacteria. With our international collaborators, we are now unravelling the mechanisms and molecules involved in this novel defence pathway.
Works
Search Professor Robert Parton’s works on UQ eSpace
2008
Journal Article
High-resolution 3D quantitative analysis of caveolar ultrastructure and caveola-cytoskeleton interactions
Richter, T., Floetenmeyer, M., Ferguson, C., Galea, J., Goh, J., Lindsay, M. R., Morgan, G. P., Marsh, B. J. and Parton, R. G. (2008). High-resolution 3D quantitative analysis of caveolar ultrastructure and caveola-cytoskeleton interactions. Traffic, 9 (6), 893-939. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2008.00733.x
2008
Journal Article
Evolutionary analysis and molecular dissection of caveola biogenesis
Kirkham, Matthew, Nixon, Susan J., Howes, Mark T., Abi-Rached, Laurent, Wakeham, Diane E., Hanzal-Bayer, Michael, Ferguson, Charles, Hill, Michelle M., Fernandez-Rojo, Manuel, Brown, Deborah A., Hancock, John F., Brodsky, Frances M. and Parton, Robert G. (2008). Evolutionary analysis and molecular dissection of caveola biogenesis. Journal of Cell Science, 121 (12), 2075-2086. doi: 10.1242/jcs.024588
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
2008
Journal Article
Fld1p, a functional homologue of human seipin, regulates the size of lipid droplets in yeast
Fei, Weihua, Shui, Guanghou, Gaeta, Bruno, Du, Ximing, Kuerschner, Lars, Li, Peng, Brown, Andrew J, Wenk, Markus R, Parton, Robert G and Yang, Hongyuan (2008). Fld1p, a functional homologue of human seipin, regulates the size of lipid droplets in yeast. Journal of Cell Biology, 180 (3), 473-482. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200711136
2008
Journal Article
PTRF-Cavin, a conserved cytoplasmic protein required for caveola formation and function
Hill, M. M., Bastiani, M., Luetterforst, R., Kirkham, M., Kirkham, A., Nixon, S. J., Walser, P., Abankwa, D., Oorschot, V. M., Martin, S., Hancock, J. F. and Parton, R. G. (2008). PTRF-Cavin, a conserved cytoplasmic protein required for caveola formation and function. Cell, 132 (1), 113-124. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2007.11.042
2008
Journal Article
Characterization of Rab18, a lipid droplet-associated small GTPase
Martin, S and Parton, R. G. (2008). Characterization of Rab18, a lipid droplet-associated small GTPase. Methods in Enzymology, 438, 109-129. doi: 10.1016/S0076-6879(07)38008-7
2008
Conference Publication
Lipid droplet fusion is regulated by protein kinase A activity in both adipocyte and non-adipocyte cell lines
Murphy, Samantha, Martin, Sally and Parton, Robert G. (2008). Lipid droplet fusion is regulated by protein kinase A activity in both adipocyte and non-adipocyte cell lines. 49th International Conference on the Bioscience of Lipids, Maastricht, The Netherlands, 26-30 August 2008. Ireland: Elsevier Ireland Ltd. doi: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2008.05.095
2007
Journal Article
Reassessing the Role of Phosphocaveolin-1 in Cell Adhesion and Migration
Hill, Michelle M., Scherbakov, Nadja, Schiefermeier, Natalia, Baran, JoAnne, Hancock, John F., Huber, Lukas A., Parton, Robert G. and Parat, Marie-Odile (2007). Reassessing the Role of Phosphocaveolin-1 in Cell Adhesion and Migration. Traffic, 8 (12), 1695-1705. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2007.00653.x
2007
Journal Article
Cholesterol Manipulation by West Nile Virus Perturbs the Cellular Immune Response
Mackenzie, Jason M., Khromykh, Alexander and Parton, Robert G. (2007). Cholesterol Manipulation by West Nile Virus Perturbs the Cellular Immune Response. Cell Host and Microbe, 2 (4), 229-239. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2007.09.003
2007
Journal Article
Late Endosomal Cholesterol Accumulation Leads to Impaired Intra-Endosomal Trafficking
Sobo, Komla, Le Blanc, Isabelle, Luyet, Pierre-Philippe, Fivaz, Marc, Ferguson, Charles, Parton, Robert G., Gruenberg, Jean and van der Goot, F. Gisou (2007). Late Endosomal Cholesterol Accumulation Leads to Impaired Intra-Endosomal Trafficking. PLoS One, 2 (9) e851, e851. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000851
2007
Journal Article
Plasma membrane nanoswitches generate high-fidelity Ras signal transduction
Tian, T. H., Harding, A., Inder, K., Plowman, S., Parton, R. G. and Hancock, J. F. (2007). Plasma membrane nanoswitches generate high-fidelity Ras signal transduction. Nature Cell Biology, 9 (8), 905-914. doi: 10.1038/ncb1615
2007
Journal Article
Cholesterol-Sensitive Cdc42 Activation Regulates Actin Polymerization for Endocytosis via the GEEC Pathway
Chadda, Rahul, Howes, Mark T., Plowman, Sarah J., Hancock, John F., Parton, Robert G. and Mayor, Satyajit (2007). Cholesterol-Sensitive Cdc42 Activation Regulates Actin Polymerization for Endocytosis via the GEEC Pathway. Traffic, 8 (6), 702-717. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0854.2007.00565.x
2007
Journal Article
Diversity of raft-like domains in late endosomes
Sobo, Komla, Chevallier, Julien, Parton, Robert G., Gruenberg, Jean and van der Goot, F. Gisou (2007). Diversity of raft-like domains in late endosomes. PLoS ONE, 2 (4) e391, e391.1-e391.7. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000391
2007
Journal Article
The multiple faces of caveolae
Parton, R. G. and Simons, K. (2007). The multiple faces of caveolae. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 8 (3), 185-194. doi: 10.1038/nrm2122
2007
Journal Article
A novel form of ataxia oculomotor apraxia characterized by oxidative stress and apoptosis resistance
Gueven, N, Becherel, OJ, Howe, O, Chen, P, Haince, JF, Ouellet, ME, Poirier, GG, Waterhouse, N, Fusser, M, Epe, B, de Murcia, JM, de Murcia, G, McGowan, CH, Parton, R, Mothersill, C, Grattan-Smith, P and Lavin, MF (2007). A novel form of ataxia oculomotor apraxia characterized by oxidative stress and apoptosis resistance. Cell Death And Differentiation, 14 (6), 1149-1161. doi: 10.1038/sj.cdd.4402116
2007
Journal Article
Caveolin-1 is required for lateral line neuromast and notochord development
Nixon, S. J., Carter, A., Wegner, J., Ferguson, C., Floetenmeyer, M., Riches, J. D., Key, B., Westerfield, M. and Parton, R. G. (2007). Caveolin-1 is required for lateral line neuromast and notochord development. Journal of Cell Science, 120 (13), 2151-2161. doi: 10.1242/jcs.003830
2007
Conference Publication
Hybrid organic-inorganic nanoparticles: controlled incorporation of gold nanoparticles into virus-like particles and application in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.
Niebert, Marcus, Riches, James, Howes, Mark, Ferguson, Charles, Parton, Robert G., Middelberg, Anton P. J., Rintoul, Llew and Fredericks, Peter M. (2007). Hybrid organic-inorganic nanoparticles: controlled incorporation of gold nanoparticles into virus-like particles and application in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.. SPIE International Symposium on Smart Materials, Nano- and Micro-Smart System, Adelaide, Australia, December 11-13, 2006. Bellingham, WA, United States: S P I E - International Society for Optical Engineering. doi: 10.1117/12.695578
2006
Journal Article
Visualisation of macropinosome maturation by the recruitment of sorting nexins
Kerr, Markus C., Lindsay, Margaret R., Luetterforst, Robert, Hamilton, Nicholas, Simpson, Fiona, Parton, Robert G., Gleeson, Paul A. and Teasdale, Rohan D. (2006). Visualisation of macropinosome maturation by the recruitment of sorting nexins. Journal Of Cell Science, 119 (19), 3967-3980. doi: 10.1242/jcs.03167
2006
Journal Article
Caveolin-1 is essential for liver regeneration
Fernandez, Manuel A., Albor, Cecilia, Ingelmo-Torres, Mercedes, Nixon, Susan J., Ferguson, Charles, Kurzchalia, Teymuras, Tebar, Francesc, Enrich, Carlos, Parton, Robert G. and Pol, Albert (2006). Caveolin-1 is essential for liver regeneration. Science, 313 (5793), 1628-1632. doi: 10.1126/science.1130773
2006
Journal Article
Arf6-independent GPI-anchored protein-enriched early endosomal compartments fuse with sorting endosomes via a Rab5/phosphatidylinositol-3 '-kinase-dependent machinery
Kalia, Manjula, Kumari, Sudha, Chadda, Rahul, Hill, Michelle M., Parton, Robert G. and Mayor, Satyajit (2006). Arf6-independent GPI-anchored protein-enriched early endosomal compartments fuse with sorting endosomes via a Rab5/phosphatidylinositol-3 '-kinase-dependent machinery. Molecular Biology of The Cell, 17 (8), 3689-3704. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E05-10-0980
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Robert Parton is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Zebrafish as a model to understand human muscle diseases
Contact Prof. Parton for further details
-
Structure and function of a new family of caveolar coat proteins
Contact Prof. Parton for further details
-
Novel pathways of endocytosis in cultured cells and in tissues
Contact Prof. Parton for further details
-
Bioengineering of novel nanovesicles for drug delivery
Contact Prof. Parton for further details
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Tracking Nanoparticles in Cells and Tissues
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tom Hall
-
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Caveolar Proteins in Cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins, Dr Harriet Lo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular and Functional Characterisation of the Lipid Droplet as an Innate Immunity Hub
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Harriet Lo, Dr Tom Hall
-
Doctor Philosophy
Functional Analysis of Caveolae
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Ariotti, Dr Harriet Lo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of The Role of Caveolar Coat Proteins in Breast Cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins, Dr Harriet Lo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Mechanical and biological determinants of epithelial homeostasis.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
-
Doctor Philosophy
Uncovering why CCM vascular malformations are restricted to the brain.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Anne Lagendijk
-
Doctor Philosophy
A lipid sensing nexus between endocytosis and cardiovascular disease: characterising a new regulation pathway for eNOS
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Ariotti
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Cytoskeletal-Golgi cross talk in cellular pathfinding in crowded tissue environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mel White, Dr Samantha Stehbens
-
Doctor Philosophy
Revealing the mechanobiology of neural tube formation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Yanina Alvarez, Dr Mel White
Completed supervision
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL MODULAR ENCAPSULATION SYSTEM FOR TARGETED DRUG DELIVERY
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tom Hall
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the cavin proteins role in the circadian rhythm
Principal Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Proteomic mapping of cavin-associated proteins in muscle: in vitro and in vivo proteomic approaches
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Harriet Lo, Dr Tom Hall
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Functional characterisation of caveolae: in vivo investigations using the zebrafish
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Harriet Lo, Dr Tom Hall
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the function of caveolar coat cavin proteins in cancer progression
Principal Advisor
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Cell-free caveola formation as a system for high throughput interaction analysis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Ariotti
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and functional characterisation of the cavin membrane coat complex
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular and Functional Characterization of a Clathrin-Independent Endocytic pathway, the CLIC/GEEC pathway
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Towards the development of a prokaryotic system for the in vitro study of caveola formation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins
-
-
-
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
The cavin proteins as regulators of caveolae formation and function
Principal Advisor
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
Clathrin Independent Carriers: Molecular characterisation of a novel clathrin-independent endocytic pathway
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Simpson
-
2006
Doctor Philosophy
THE ROLE OF CAVEOLIN IN ENDOCYTOSIS AND CAVEOLAE BIOGENESIS
Principal Advisor
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
EFFECTS OF CELLULAR INTERACTIONS ON MICROTUBULE - DEPENDENT EVENTS IN MYELINATION
Principal Advisor
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL EXPRESSION OF CAVEOLIN
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
PROTEIN-LIPID INTERACTIONS WITHIN THE CELL
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
-
2003
Doctor Philosophy
ENTRY OF ONCOGENIC DNA VIRUSES INTO ANIMAL CELLS
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Caveolae Respond to Acute Mechanical Stress by Activating a Novel Signalling Pathway for Reinforcement of Actomyosin
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
-
2019
Doctor Philosophy
Caveolae/Caveolin-1: A regulator of monolayer tension and oncogenic cell extrusion
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
-
2017
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the role of caveolae in the uptake process of Streptococcus pyogenes into non-phagocytic host cells
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Walker
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular characterisation of the adiponectin receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2
Associate Advisor
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Biomechanics of Epithelial Interactions: From Multicellular Cohesion to Oncogenic Transformation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Biodiscovery Search for Marine-Derived Inhibitors of P-gp, BCRP and MRP1 as a Means to Improve Cancer Chemotherapy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Angela Salim, Professor Rob Capon
-
-
2010
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into the Regulation of Iosine- Monophophate Dehydogenase (IMPDH)
Associate Advisor
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Hypervariable regions of Ras isoforms dictate distinct functionality by targeting to specific protein complexes at microdomains
Associate Advisor
-
2008
Doctor Philosophy
The Functional Characterisation of Centrobin in Endocytic Trafficking and Microtubule Dynamics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor Kum Kum Khanna, Honorary Professor Nathan Subramaniam
-
2008
Doctor Philosophy
A Proteomic Analysis of Ras-Containing Nanodomains & The Investigation of Endogenous Ras Signalling
Associate Advisor
-
2008
Doctor Philosophy
Cadherin-Microtubule Cooperativity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
-
2006
Doctor Philosophy
A STUDY OF THE MEMBRANE INTERACTIONS OF K-RAS
Associate Advisor
-
2005
Doctor Philosophy
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN E-CADHERIN, PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL-3-KINASE, RAC AND THE WASP FAMILY PROTEIN, WAVE, IS NECESSARY FOR PRODUCTIVE CADHERIN-DEPENDENT CONTACT FORMATION.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
-
2004
Doctor Philosophy
A NOVEL ROLE FOR THE NUCLEAR GROWTH HORMONE RECEPTOR IN CELLULAR PROLIFERATION
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Robert Parton directly for media enquiries about:
- Cancer development
- Caveolae
- Cell surface
- Cells
- Muscular dystrophy
- Plasma membrane
- Tumour formation
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: