Brett Collins
The Collins lab is interested in understanding how molecular interactions between proteins and lipids control intracellular membrane trafficking, using structural biology and biophysical approaches. Current interests include (i) endosomal trafficking by the Retromer complex and the sorting nexin protein family, (ii) the formation of plasma membrane structures called caveolae, and (ii) the mechanisms of synaptic vesicle fusion controlled by SNARE proteins. After training at Macquarie University in Sydney with Prof. Bridget Mabbutt and a postdoctoral period at the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research with Prof. David Owen, Prof. Collins returned to Australia in 2006 to take up an NHMRC RD Wright Career Development Award at the University of Queensland Institute for Molecular Bioscience. He currently holds an NHMRC Investigator Grant and is Director of the Centre for Cell Biology of Chronic Disease at the IMB. UQ. Career highlights include determining the structure of the heterotetrameric AP2 complex that regulates receptor endocytosis at the plasma membrane (Cell, 2002, 2010), providing key insights into the Retromer transport assembly (Nature, 2018, Sci. Adv. 2021) and the related Commander complex (eLife 2018, Cell 2023) defining a novel family of sorting nexin proteins that regulate endosomal sorting (Nat. Cell Biol. 2021, Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol, 2016), and providing the molecular insights into the assembly of caveolar membrane coat structures (Dev. Cell 2014; EMBO Rep, 2018; Nat. Comms, 2021).
Abstracts this author is presenting: