A/Prof. Andrew Clayton   A/Prof of Biophotonics

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Melbourne, 1996

Current Research Projects

Cell Surface Receptors

Receptors provide the first line of communication between cells and their external environment. Receptor malfunction has been implicated in diseases such as cancer.

Our recent research has unveiled a new mechanism of receptor activation on the cell surface that involves the formation of higher-order polymeric complexes. We wish to establish the generality of this phenomenon and its implication to cell signaling and therapeutic intervention. The project draws on several areas, molecular biology, cell biology, multidimensional microscopy and systems biology.

New optical tools for biology

Development and application of FRET, FLIM, polarization and correlation imaging methods to measure protein-protein interactions and dynamics at the single cell and single molecule level.

Peptide-membrane interactions

The interaction of macromolecules with biological surfaces such as membranes represents a fundamental question and is important in areas such as the development of new antimicrobial peptides.

In collaboration with A/Prof. Michelle Gee at the University of Melbourne we aim to understand the molecular dynamics and molecular states produced by antimicrobial peptides with artificial membranes and cells using surface-selective spectroscopy and microscopic techniques.

Areas of Expertise and Research

Andrew Clayton undertook his Ph.D. studies in physical chemistry at the University of Melbourne (Prof. Ken Ghiggino) then spent time as ARC research fellow in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department studying biophysics (Prof. Bill Sawyer). He pursued further postdoctoral studies at the Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry in Goettingen (Dr. Thomas Jovin) as Human Frontier Science Program Fellow before returning to Melbourne initially as HFSP fellow (Prof. Tony Burgess) then NHMRC RD Wright Fellow and Head of the Cell Biophysics Laboratory at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.

His present research focuses on understanding the wiring diagram of living cells by measuring macromolecular interactions and dynamics with multidimensional microscopy. His research achievements have been recognized with several awards including Young Fluorescence Investigator 2007 from the US Biophysical Society.

Membership of Professional Organisations

• Australian Biophysics Society
• US Biophysical Society

Professional Committees

• Victorian State Representative of Australian Biophysics Society

Supervision of higher degree by research (HDR) (Current students)

Name	Degree	Research Centre	Start year	Role	Institution
William Brown	PhD	IRIS/CAOUS 50/50	2011	Associate Supervisor	Swinburne
Alireza Lajevardipour	PhD	CMP	2011	Primary Supervisor	Swinburne
Peter Koegler
	PhD	IRIS	2012	Co-Supervisor	Swinburne

Topics for Prospective Ph.D Students - View ALL topics for A/Prof. Andrew Clayton

Multidimensional microscopy and cell signalling
Individual protein molecules can be tagged and by means of fluorescence we can image their location and movement inside cells.

We wish to extend this to measure to multiple molecules and interactions

Imaging the mechanism of cytolytic peptides in living cells.
Individual protein molecules can be tagged and by means of fluorescence we can image their location and movement inside cells.

We wish to extend this to measure to multiple molecules and interactions