
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
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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
2016
Journal Article
Mechanoprotection by skeletal muscle caveolae
Lo, Harriet P., Hall, Thomas E. and Parton, Robert G. (2016). Mechanoprotection by skeletal muscle caveolae. BioArchitecture, 6 (1), 22-27. doi: 10.1080/19490992.2015.1131891
2016
Conference Publication
Journey to the centre of the cell (JTCC)∗: a 3D VR experience derived from migratory breast cancer cell image data
McGhee, John, Bailey, Benjamin, Parton, Robert G., Ariotti, Nicholas and Johnston, Angus (2016). Journey to the centre of the cell (JTCC)∗: a 3D VR experience derived from migratory breast cancer cell image data. 2016 SIGGRAPH ASIA VR Showcase, SA 2016, Macau, China, 5 - 8 December 2016. New York, NY, United States: Association for Computing Machinery. doi: 10.1145/2996376.2996385
2016
Journal Article
Coronin 1B reorganizes the architecture of f-actin networks for contractility at steady-state and apoptotic adherens junctions
Michael, Magdalene, Meiring, Joyce C. M., Acharya, Bipul R., Matthews, Daniel R., Verma, Suzie, Han, Siew Ping, Hill, Michelle M., Parton, Robert G., Gomez, Guillermo A. and Yap, Alpha S. (2016). Coronin 1B reorganizes the architecture of f-actin networks for contractility at steady-state and apoptotic adherens junctions. Developmental Cell, 37 (1), 58-71. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2016.03.008
2015
Journal Article
Modular detection of GFP-labeled proteins for rapid screening by electron microscopy in cells and organisms
Ariotti, Nicholas, Hall, Thomas, Rae, James, Ferguson, Charles, McMahon, Kerrie-Ann, Martel, Nick, Webb, Robyn E., Webb, Richard I., Teasdale, Rohan D. and Parton, Robert G. (2015). Modular detection of GFP-labeled proteins for rapid screening by electron microscopy in cells and organisms. Developmental Cell, 35 (4), 513-525. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.10.016
2015
Journal Article
High-density lipoprotein inhibits human M1 macrophage polarization through redistribution of caveolin-1
Lee, Man K.S., Moore, Xiao-Lei, Fu, Yi, Al-Sharea, Annas, Dragoljevic, Dragana, Fernandez-Rojo, Manuel A., Parton, Robert, Sviridov, Dmitri, Murphy, Andrew J. and Chin-Dusting, Jaye P.F. (2015). High-density lipoprotein inhibits human M1 macrophage polarization through redistribution of caveolin-1. British Journal of Pharmacology, 173 (4), 741-751. doi: 10.1111/bph.13319
2015
Journal Article
Kidney organoids from human iPS cells contain multiple lineages and model human nephrogenesis
Takasato, Minoru, Er, Pei X., Chiu, Han S., Maier, Barbara, Baillie, Gregory J., Ferguson, Charles, Parton, Robert G., Wolvetang, Ernst J., Roost, Matthias S., de Sousa Lopes, Susana M. Chuva and Little, Melissa H. (2015). Kidney organoids from human iPS cells contain multiple lineages and model human nephrogenesis. Nature, 526 (7574), 564-568. doi: 10.1038/nature15695
2015
Journal Article
Oligomerization and endocytosis of Hedgehog is necessary for its efficient exovesicular secretion
Parchure, Anup, Vyas, Neha, Ferguson, Charles, Parton, Robert G. and Mayor, Satyajit (2015). Oligomerization and endocytosis of Hedgehog is necessary for its efficient exovesicular secretion. Molecular Biology of The Cell, 26 (25), 1-35. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E15-09-0671
2015
Journal Article
A phosphoinositide-binding cluster in cavin1 acts as a molecular sensor for cavin1 degradation
Tillu, Vikas A., Kovtun, Oleksiy, McMahon, Kerrie-Ann, Collins, Brett M. and Parton, Robert G. (2015). A phosphoinositide-binding cluster in cavin1 acts as a molecular sensor for cavin1 degradation. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 26 (20), 3561-3569. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E15-06-0359
2015
Journal Article
Adherens Junctions Revisualized: Organizing Cadherins as Nanoassemblies
Yap, Alpha S., Gomez, Guillermo A. and Parton, Robert G. (2015). Adherens Junctions Revisualized: Organizing Cadherins as Nanoassemblies. Developmental Cell, 35 (1) 3402, 12-20. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2015.09.012
2015
Journal Article
Molecular characterization of caveolin-induced membrane curvature
Ariotti, Nicholas, Rae, James, Leneva, Natalya, Ferguson, Charles, Loo, Dorothy, Okano, Satomi, Hill, Michelle M., Walser, Piers, Collins, Brett M. and Parton, Robert G. (2015). Molecular characterization of caveolin-induced membrane curvature. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 290 (41), 24875-24890. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.644336
2015
Journal Article
APPL endosomes are not obligatory endocytic intermediates but act as stable cargo-sorting compartments
Kalaidzidis, Inna, Miaczynska, Marta, Brewinska-Olchowik, Marta, Hupalowska, Anna, Ferguson, Charles, Parton, Robert G., Kalaidzidis, Yannis and Zerial, Marino (2015). APPL endosomes are not obligatory endocytic intermediates but act as stable cargo-sorting compartments. Journal of Cell Biology, 211 (1), 123-144. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201311117
2015
Journal Article
The caveolin–cavin system plays a conserved and critical role in mechanoprotection of skeletal muscle
Lo, Harriet P., Nixon, Susan Jane, Hall, Thomas Edward, Cowling, Belinda Simone, Ferguson, Charles, Morgan, Garry Patrick, Schieber, Nicole Louise, Fernandez-Rojo, Manuel Alejandro, Bastiani, Michele, Floetenmeyer, Matthias, Martel, Nick, Laporte, Jocelyn, Pilch, Paul F. and Parton, Robert (2015). The caveolin–cavin system plays a conserved and critical role in mechanoprotection of skeletal muscle. The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 212 (10), 833-849. doi: 10.1084/jem.21210oia80
2015
Journal Article
Non-caveolar caveolin-1 expression in prostate cancer cells promotes lymphangiogenesis
Zeyad Nassar, Hill, Michelle, Parton, Robert G., Francois, Mathias and Parat, Marie-Odile (2015). Non-caveolar caveolin-1 expression in prostate cancer cells promotes lymphangiogenesis. Oncoscience, 2 (7), 635-645. doi: 10.18632/oncoscience.180
2015
Journal Article
The caveolin-cavin system plays a conserved and critical role in mechanoprotection of skeletal muscle
Lo, Harriet P., Nixon, Susan J., Hall, Thomas E., Cowling, Belinda S., Ferguson, Charles, Morgan, Garry P., Schieber, Nicole L., Fernandez-Rojo, Manuel A., Bastiani, Michele, Floetenmeyer, Matthias, Martel, Nick, Laporte, Jocelyn, Pilch, Paul F. and Parton, Robert G. (2015). The caveolin-cavin system plays a conserved and critical role in mechanoprotection of skeletal muscle. Journal of Cell Biology, 210 (5), 833-849. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201501046
2015
Journal Article
Seeing and believing: recent advances in imaging cell-cell interactions
Yap, Alpha S., Michael, Magdalene and Parton, Robert G. (2015). Seeing and believing: recent advances in imaging cell-cell interactions. F1000Research, 4 (F1000 Faculty Rev) 273, 273.1-273.8. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.6435.1
2015
Journal Article
MURC/cavin-4 Is Co-Expressed with Caveolin-3 in Rhabdomyosarcoma Tumors and Its Silencing Prevents Myogenic Differentiation in the Human Embryonal RD Cell Line
Faggi, Fiorella, Codenotti, Silvia, Poliani, Pietro Luigi, Cominelli, Manuela, Chiarelli, Nicola, Colombi, Marina, Vezzoli, Marika, Monti, Eugenio, Bono, Federica, Tulipano, Giovanni, Fiorentini, Chiara, Zanola, Alessandra, Lo, Harriet P., Parton, Robert G., Keller, Charles and Fanzani, Alessandro (2015). MURC/cavin-4 Is Co-Expressed with Caveolin-3 in Rhabdomyosarcoma Tumors and Its Silencing Prevents Myogenic Differentiation in the Human Embryonal RD Cell Line. PLoS One, 10 (6) e0130287, e0130287-e0130287. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130287
2015
Journal Article
Critical role of CAV1/caveolin-1 in cell stress responses in human breast cancer cells via modulation of lysosomal function and autophagy
Shi, Yin, Tan, Shi-Hao, Ng, Shukie, Zhou, Jing, Yang, Na-Di, Khoo, Gi-Bang, McMahon, Kerrie-Ann, Parton, Robert G., Hill, Michelle, del Pozo, Miguel A., Kim, You-Sun and Shen, Han-Ming (2015). Critical role of CAV1/caveolin-1 in cell stress responses in human breast cancer cells via modulation of lysosomal function and autophagy. Autophagy, 11 (5), 769-784. doi: 10.1080/15548627.2015.1034411
2015
Journal Article
AMPK activation promotes lipid droplet dispersion on detyrosinated microtubules to increase mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation
Herms, Albert, Bosch, Marta, Reddy, Babu J. N., Schieber, Nicole L., Fajardo, Alba, Ruperez, Celia, Fernandez-Vidal, Andrea, Ferguson, Charles, Rentero, Carles, Tebar, Francesc, Enrich, Carlos, Parton, Robert G., Gross, Steven P. and Pol, Albert (2015). AMPK activation promotes lipid droplet dispersion on detyrosinated microtubules to increase mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Nature Communications, 6 (1) 7176, 7176.1-7176.14. doi: 10.1038/ncomms8176
2015
Journal Article
Building endocytic pits without clathrin
Ludgar, Johannes, Parton, Robert G., Bassereau, Patricia and Mayor, Satyajit (2015). Building endocytic pits without clathrin. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 16 (5), 311-321. doi: 10.1038/nrm3968
2015
Journal Article
An RPTPα/Src family kinase/Rap1 signaling module recruits myosin IIB to support contractile tension at apical E-cadherin junctions
Gomez, Guillermo A., McLachlan, Robert W., Wu, Selwin K., Caldwell, Benjamin J., Moussa, Elliott, Verma, Suzie, Bastiani, Michele, Priya, Rashmi, Parton, Robert G., Gaus, Katharina, Sap, Jan and Yap, Alpha S. (2015). An RPTPα/Src family kinase/Rap1 signaling module recruits myosin IIB to support contractile tension at apical E-cadherin junctions. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 26 (7), 1249-1262. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E14-07-1223
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Robert Parton is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Zebrafish as a model to understand human muscle diseases
Contact Prof. Parton for further details
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Structure and function of a new family of caveolar coat proteins
Contact Prof. Parton for further details
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Novel pathways of endocytosis in cultured cells and in tissues
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Bioengineering of novel nanovesicles for drug delivery
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Tracking Nanoparticles in Cells and Tissues
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tom Hall
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Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Caveolar Proteins in Cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins, Dr Harriet Lo
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Functional Analysis of Caveolae
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Ariotti, Dr Harriet Lo
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Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of The Role of Caveolar Coat Proteins in Breast Cancer
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins, Dr Harriet Lo
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding Cytoskeletal-Golgi cross talk in cellular pathfinding in crowded tissue environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Mel White, Dr Samantha Stehbens
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Doctor Philosophy
Revealing the mechanobiology of neural tube formation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Yanina Alvarez, Dr Mel White
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Doctor Philosophy
Mechanical and biological determinants of epithelial homeostasis.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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Doctor Philosophy
Uncovering why CCM vascular malformations are restricted to the brain.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Anne Lagendijk
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL MODULAR ENCAPSULATION SYSTEM FOR TARGETED DRUG DELIVERY
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tom Hall
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the cavin proteins role in the circadian rhythm
Principal Advisor
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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
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Functional characterisation of caveolae: in vivo investigations using the zebrafish
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Harriet Lo, Dr Tom Hall
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation of the function of caveolar coat cavin proteins in cancer progression
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Cell-free caveola formation as a system for high throughput interaction analysis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicholas Ariotti
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Structural and functional characterisation of the cavin membrane coat complex
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular and Functional Characterization of a Clathrin-Independent Endocytic pathway, the CLIC/GEEC pathway
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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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
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The cavin proteins as regulators of caveolae formation and function
Principal Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Clathrin Independent Carriers: Molecular characterisation of a novel clathrin-independent endocytic pathway
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Simpson
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2006
Doctor Philosophy
THE ROLE OF CAVEOLIN IN ENDOCYTOSIS AND CAVEOLAE BIOGENESIS
Principal Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
EFFECTS OF CELLULAR INTERACTIONS ON MICROTUBULE - DEPENDENT EVENTS IN MYELINATION
Principal Advisor
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL EXPRESSION OF CAVEOLIN
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
PROTEIN-LIPID INTERACTIONS WITHIN THE CELL
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
ENTRY OF ONCOGENIC DNA VIRUSES INTO ANIMAL CELLS
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Peter Noakes
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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
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Caveolae/Caveolin-1: A regulator of monolayer tension and oncogenic cell extrusion
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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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
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular characterisation of the adiponectin receptors, AdipoR1 and AdipoR2
Associate Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Biomechanics of Epithelial Interactions: From Multicellular Cohesion to Oncogenic Transformation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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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
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into the Regulation of Iosine- Monophophate Dehydogenase (IMPDH)
Associate Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Hypervariable regions of Ras isoforms dictate distinct functionality by targeting to specific protein complexes at microdomains
Associate Advisor
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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
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
A Proteomic Analysis of Ras-Containing Nanodomains & The Investigation of Endogenous Ras Signalling
Associate Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Cadherin-Microtubule Cooperativity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Alpha Yap
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2006
Doctor Philosophy
A STUDY OF THE MEMBRANE INTERACTIONS OF K-RAS
Associate Advisor
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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
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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
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