Rohan Teasdale

My long-term research focus has been on the discovery and characterization of novel protein trafficking components. I am recognized for my contribution to the discovery of endosome associated proteins and defining their molecular function within various endosomal associated protein trafficking pathways. I am recognized internationally for cell biology research on endosomal protein complexes and protein trafficking pathways, which are currently emerging as key contributors to normal physiological processes and neurodegenerative diseases. My research vision in endosome associated biology represents an ambitious and comprehensive plan that spans the detailed characterisation of individual proteins to genome-wide screening.

Throughout my career I have 118 research publications that have attracted a total of >12,000 citations. My h- index=52 (Web of Science May 2024).

Major published discoveries and impacts originating from my Protein Trafficking in Disease laboratory at the University of Queensland include:

• We discovered a novel Retromer complex defined by incorporation of Vps26 in the Vps26B subunit. We showed that the two distinct Retromer complexes defined by different Vps26 paralogues are not functionally equivalent and that they have unique cargo binding specificity (Traffic, 2005, 2008, 2011; Cell Biol. Int, 2014).

We recently clarified a controversy about the molecular action of retromer by demonstrating that the essential role of retromer in the selective incorporation of cargo into a specific type of endosome transport carrier. This included the generation of a series of novel cell models using CrispR-mediated KO of the Retromer and its associated proteins (J. Cell Biol, 2019). Incorporation of cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (CI- M6PR) into endosome transport carriers via a retromer-dependent process is restricted to those tethered by GCC88 but not golgin-97 or golgin-245. This retromer-dependent retrograde cargo trafficking pathway requires SNX3, but not other retromer-associated cargo binding proteins, such as SNX27 or SNX-BAR proteins.

• We defined, for the first time, a role for Retromer in GLUT-4 Storage Vesicle (GSV) formation and adipogenesis in primary cell line models. In mature adipocytes, we demonstrated that Retromer is recruited to GSVs and is essential for both, the maintenance of GSV protein levels and the formation of GSV (FASEB Journal, 2016).

• Retromer has been implicated in both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s neurological diseases and we have recently published the first manuscripts showing the molecular mechanisms underlying this genetic cause of Parkinson’s disease (Traffic, 2014, J. Biol Chem, 2016).

• I have continued to investigate the sorting nexin/PX domain family of protein trafficking molecules that I originally discovered and defined (Biochem J. 2001; 2012). This has included characterising SNX27 and the molecular details of how it interacts with membrane cargo and the retromer complex (J. Biol Chem, 2018; Mol. Biol. Cell, 2016; Nature Struct. Mol. Biol., 2016, PNAS, 2013, 2014)