Zee Upton
  1. Current research activities

    2. My current research is directed at interactions of growth factors with extracellular matrix proteins. In particular I have been investigating the interactions of growth factors (especially insulin-like growth factors) with vitronectin and how these novel complexes can be used to enhance cell proliferation and migration. We have established that these enhanced effects arise from co-activation of vitronectin-binding integrins as well as growth factor receptors on the cell surface. This in turn has led to studies examining the use of these complexes for ex vivo serum-free, feeder-free expansion of progenitor/stem cells, as coatings on scaffolds, and more recently we have started investigating the potential of the complexes as “bioactive wound dressings. This research has been primarily directed at skin and bone repair and regeneration and has led to the formation of a new biotechnology company, Tissue Therapies.

  2. Keywords

    3. wound healing, skin regeneration, tissue engineering, progenitor cells, extracellular matrix proteins, integrins, growth factors, scaffolds.

  3. End-user applications

    • Wound healing
    • Burns
    • Skeletal repair
    • Ex vivo expansion of stem/progenitor cells
    • Corneal grafting
    • Industrial cell culture

  4. Key publications

    5. I. Upton, Z., Webb, H., Hale, K., McMurtry, J.P., Francis, G.L. & Ballard F.J. (1999) Identification of vitronectin as a novel IGF-II binding protein. Endocrinology 140, 2928-2931.
    II. Kricker, J.A., Noble., A, Hyde., C.E., Firth, S.M., Herington, A.C. & Upton, Z. (2003) Structural and functional evidence for the interaction of IGFs and IGF-binding proteins with vitronectin. Endocrinology 144, 2807-2815.
    III. Noble, A., Towne, C., Chopin, L., Leavesley, D.I. & Upton, Z. (2003) Insulin-like growth factor-II bound to vitronectin stimulates MCF7 breast cancer cell migration. Endocrinology 144, 2417-2424.
    IV. Hyde, C.E., Hollier, B., Harkin, D., Anderson, A, & Upton, Z. Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins bound to vitronectin enhance keratinocyte protein synthesis and migration. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, in press.
    V. Wei M., Vellinga D., Leavesley D., Evans J. & Upton Z. (2002) Cell attachment and proliferation on hydroxyapatite and ion substituted hydroxyapatites. Bioceramics. 15, pp 671-674. Eds by B. Ben-Nissan, D. Sher & W. Walsh. Trans Tech Publications.

  5. Outreach activities

    6. QUT Innovation train display
    School visits
    Science Meets parliament
    Bench to Business lunches/seminars
    BioLinks Breakfast presentation
    Presentations to State Govt.
    Tissue Engineeringhands-on practical/workshop for high-schools starting in 2004

  6. Key organisation membership

    7. Tissue Engineering Society International (TESI)
    European Tissue Engineering Society (ETES)
    Australian tissue engineering interest

  7. Early career researcher?

    8. No

  8. Young investigator?

    9. Yes

  9. Skills and expertise

    • cell biology
    • protein characterization
    • functional assays
    • hES and primary cell culture
    • recombinant protein production
    • downstream processing
    • product R&D and prototyping
    • research commercialisation

  10. Specialist equipment and infrastructure

    • Usual cell and molecular biology equipment plus access to specialist microscopy equipment (confocal, RAMAN, FTIR etc).

© 2004

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