Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment

School of Life and Environmental Sciences

Dr Sharon La Fontaine
  Phone   +61 3 925 17669
Email   sharon.lafontaine@deakin.edu.au
Position   Senior Lecturer
Campus   Burwood
Research grouping   Biomolecular Sciences

My research is focused on the molecular and cellular mechanisms mediating copper (Cu) balance in
mammalian cells, and has involved detailed investigations of the genes/proteins mutated in Menkes
and Wilson diseases. At UCLA, USA, I studied Cu and Fe metabolism in the unicellular green algae,
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. My current research involves identifying and characterizing other key
proteins essential for mammalian Cu homeostasis and for protection against Cu-mediated oxidative stress.

Research interests

  1. Mammalian copper homeostasis
  2. Oxidative stress
  3. Protein-Protein interactions

Career

Lecturer in Biomedical Science, Deakin University
Senior Research Officer / NHMRC R.D. Wright Fellow, Deakin University
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dept. of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, USA
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Victoria
PhD, Department of Microbiology, Monash University

Key publications

Singleton, W. C., McInnes, K. T., Cater, M. A., Winnall, W. R., McKirdy, R., Yu, Y., Taylor, P. E., Ke, B. X., Richardson, D. R., Mercer, J. F. and La Fontaine, S. (2010) The role of glutaredoxin and glutathione in regulating the activity of the copper-transporting P-type ATPases, ATP7A and ATP7B. J. Biol. Chem. 285, 27111-27121

Lim, C.M., Cater, M.A., Mercer, J.F.B. and La Fontaine, S. (2006) Copper-dependent interaction of glutaredoxin with the N termini of ATP7A and ATP7B. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 348, 428-436

Lim, C.M., Cater, M.A., Mercer, J.F.B. and La Fontaine, S. (2006) Copper-dependent interaction of dynactin subunit p62 with the N terminus of ATP7B but not ATP7A. J. Biol. Chem. 281, 14006-14014

Stephenson, S.E.M., Dubach, D., Lim, C.M., Mercer, J.F.B. and La Fontaine, S. (2005) A single PDZ domain protein interacts with the Menkes copper ATPase, ATP7A: A new protein implicated in copper homeostasis. J. Biol. Chem. 280, 33270–33279

La Fontaine, S., Firth, S.D., Camakaris, J., Englezou, A., Theophilos, M.B., Petris, M.J., Howie, M., Lockhart, P.J., Greenough, M., Brooks, H., Reddel, R.R. and Mercer, J.F.B. (1998) Correction of the copper transport defect of Menkes patient fibroblasts by expression of the Menkes and Wilson ATPases. J. Biol. Chem. 273, 31375-31380

View entire list of audited publications

Professional activities

Co-convenor, Interfaculty Biomedical Seminar Series (with Dr Aaron Russell, Faculty of HMNBS)
Australian Society for Medical Research Victorian Branch Committee Member
Co-ordinate CCMB HDR activities
Involved in Secondary School Work Experience Program
ASBMB Institutional Representative

 

PhD students

Student nameThesis title
Sue Ackland (2009-Present) Stephanie Materia (2008-Present) Chris Lim (Completed)Identification of proteins that interact with the copper transporter ATP7B. Belinda Hardman (Completed-Assoc. Sup)Copper transporters in the human placenta. Michael Cater (Completed-Assoc. Sup)Mechanisms regulating the function of the ATP7B copper-ATPase. Agnes Michalczyk (Completed-Assoc. Sup)The function of zinc transporter genes in human cells.  

 

Teaching areas

Professional Practice in Bioscience (SLE390), Unit Chair
Medical Microbiology and Immunology (SLE334), Campus Coordinator


Deakin University acknowledges the traditional land owners of present campus sites.

8th February 2013