Biography
Dr Matthew McKenzie undertook his PhD at St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, where he developed novel mouse models of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) disease. He continued his mitochondrial research as a postdoctoral scientist at University College London, investigating how mitochondrial membrane potential, calcium handling and ATP generation are disrupted in mitochondrial disorders using state-of-the-art confocal imaging techniques.
Dr McKenzie returned to Australia in 2004 to work at La Trobe University, Melbourne, where he received an NHMRC Peter Doherty Fellowship and subsequently an NHMRC Career Development Fellowship. His research during this time focused on the biogenesis of mitochondrial complex I in disease, and led to his recruuitment in 2011 to the Hudson Institute of Medical Research as an independant Research Group Leader. Following this appointment, he was awared an ARC Future Fellowship to support his research programme.
In 2018, Dr McKenzie was appointed as a Lecturer at Deakin University, with his current research focusing on the interactions between mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation (FAO) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) protein complexes and their importance in human disease pathology.
Read more on Matthew's profileCareer highlights
2012-2016: ARC Future Fellowship
2009-2012: NHMRC Career Development Fellowship
2006-2009: NHMRC Peter Doherty Fellowship
Research interests
Mitochondria are the ‘powerhouses’ of eukaryotic cells, oxidizing sugars and fats to generate the energy molecule adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP). Defects in mitochondrial function can cause disease in both children and adults, which in many cases is fatal. Tissues with high energy demand, such as brain, heart and liver, are commonly affected, with few therapies available for treatment. Dr McKenzie’s research aims to define the pathological mechanisms which underlie these diseases, in particular how disruption of mitochondrial fatty acid beta-oxidation (FAO) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Dr McKenzie’s group is defining the important physical interactions between FAO and OXPHOS protein complexes and determining how their disruption contributes to mitochondrial disease pathology. They are also investigating the role that various FAO proteins play in the biogenesis and assembly of the OXPHOS complexes. To do this, they use techniques such as Blue Native-PAGE, in vitro mitochondrial import and protein assembly assays. His group has also developed novel human models of FAO disease by reprogramming patient fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and by CRISPR gene disruption in human ES cells. These stem cell lines can be differentiated into neurons, cardiomyocytes and hepatocytes to model mitochondrial disease pathology in a cell-type specific manner.
Teaching interests
Cell Biology, Human Disease, Metabolism
Units taught
SLE111 - Cells and Genes
SLE212 - Biochemistry
SLE222- Biochemical Metabolism
Knowledge areas
Mitochondrial biology; Mitochondrial Disease; Oxidative Phosphorylation; Fatty acid oxidation; Stem Cells
Conferences
2022: Speaker, AussieMit Conference on Mitochondrial Biology and Disease, Sydney
2019: Speaker, Deakin Teaching and Learning Conference
2019: Speaker, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Australian Alumni Association Symposium
2018: Scientific Program Committee, AussieMit Conference on Mitochondrial Biology and Disease, Melbourne
2016: Speaker, AussieMit Conference on Mitochondrial Biology and Disease, Sydney
2016: Invited Speaker, Mitochondrial Disease Research Symposium, Saitama Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
2014: Speaker, AussieMit Conference on Mitochondrial Biology and Disease, Perth
2012: Organizing Committee, AussieMit Conference on Mitochondrial Biology and Disease, Melbourne
2013: Speaker, ComBio2013, Perth
2010: Speaker, Gordon Research Conference, ‘Mitochondria and Chloroplasts’, Italy.
2008: Speaker, Lorne Protein Conference, Australia
2008: Speaker, United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, USA
2008: Organizing Committee, the inaugural AussieMit Conference on Mitochondrial Biology and Disease, Melbourne
2007: Speaker, European Conference on Mitochondrial Pathology, 'Euromit', Venice, Italy
Professional activities
2020-current: Deakin Research Integrity Advisor
2019-current: Deakin Animal Ethics Committee
2019: Deakin Vice-Chancellors Academic Excellence Scholarship Program (VCPEP) Mentor
2017: NHMRC Grant Review Panel, Biochemistry and Cell Biology
2017: Project Grant Reviewer, University of Belgium and MRC DPFS Scheme, UK
2016: Book Editor, Methods in Molecular Biology Series; ‘Mitochondrial DNA’, Springer
2015: Project Grant Reviewer, Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation, Germany
2013-current: External Reviewer, ARC Discovery Projects and Fellowships
2012: Guest Editor: ‘Frontiers of Mitochondrial Research’, Biochim Biophys Acta - General Subjects
2011-current: External Reviewer, NHMRC Project Grants
2011-current: External Reviewer, ARC Discovery Projects, DECRA and Future Fellowships
2010: Project grant Reviewer, The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO)
Awards
2022: Deakin Commendation for Scientific Publication
2012: Monash Research Accelerator Program
2008: Junior Investigator Award, 33rd Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function
2002: Junior Investigator Award, St. Vincent's Hospital Research Week, Melbourne
Projects
Developing new stem cell models to investigate how defects in fatty acid oxidation contribute to human mitochondrial disease
Defining how microRNAs regulate mitochondrial metabolism
Developing novel therapeutic compounds for treating mitochondrial disease
Publications
MicroRNA-101-3p Modulates Mitochondrial Metabolism via the Regulation of Complex II Assembly
Mark Ziemann, Sze Lim, Yilin Kang, Sona Samuel, Isabel Sanchez, Michael Gantier, Diana Stojanovski, Matthew McKenzie
(2022), Vol. 434, pp. 1-16, Journal of Molecular Biology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
A Muccini, N Tran, N Hale, M McKenzie, R Snow, D Walker, S Ellery
(2022), Vol. 2022, pp. 1-19, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, Cairo, Egypt, C1
H Burgin, A Sharpe, S Nie, M Ziemann, J Crameri, D Stojanovski, J Pitt, A Ohtake, K Murayama, M McKenzie
(2022), pp. 1-22, FEBS Journal, London, Eng., C1
Harrison Burgin, Jordan Crameri, Diana Stojanovski, M Sanchez, Mark Ziemann, Matthew McKenzie
(2022), Vol. 23, pp. 1-19, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Basel, Switzerland, C1
Integrating mitochondrial aerobic metabolism into ecology and evolution
Rebecca Koch, Katherine Buchanan, Stefania Casagrande, Ondi Crino, Damian Dowling, Geoffrey Hill, Wendy Hood, Matthew McKenzie, Mylene Mariette, Daniel Noble, Alexandra Pavlova, Frank Seebacher, Paul Sunnucks, Eve Udino, Craig White, Karine Salin, Antoine Stier
(2021), Vol. 36, pp. 321-332, Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Oxford, Eng., C1
E Udino, J George, M McKenzie, A Pessato, O Crino, K Buchanan, M Mariette
(2021), Vol. 288, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, England, C1
Understanding the role of OXPHOS dysfunction in the pathogenesis of ECHS1 Deficiency
Harrison Burgin, Matthew McKenzie
(2020), Vol. 594, pp. 590-610, FEBS Letters, Chichester, Eng., C1
H Burgin, M Sanchez, C Smith, I Trounce, M McKenzie
(2020), Vol. 21, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Switzerland, C1
Matthew McKenzie, Mark Ziemann
(2020), pp. 1-6, International Journal of Educational Research Open, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1
Nuclear response to divergent mitochondrial DNA genotypes modulates the interferon immune response
M Lopez Sanchez, M Ziemann, A Bachem, R Makam, J Crowston, C Pinkert, M McKenzie, S Bedoui, I Trounce
(2020), Vol. 15, pp. e0239804-, PloS one, United States, C1
Sarah Creed, Matthew McKenzie
(2019), Vol. 1928, pp. 69-76, Cancer metabolism, New York, N.Y., B1
Most clinical anti-EGFR antibodies do not neutralize both wtEGFR and EGFRvIII activation in glioma
S Greenall, M McKenzie, E Seminova, O Dolezal, L Pearce, J Bentley, M Kuchibhotla, S Chen, K McDonald, H Kornblum, R Endersby, T Adams, T Johns
(2019), Vol. 21, pp. 1016-1027, Neuro-Oncology, England, C1
S Lim, M Tajika, M Shimura, K Carey, D Stroud, K Murayama, A Ohtake, M McKenzie
(2018), Vol. 8, Scientific Reports, England, C1-1
A Sharpe, M McKenzie
(2018), Vol. 7, Cells, Switzerland, C1-1
Monocytes and dendritic cells are the primary sources of interleukin 37 in human immune cells
Ina Rudloff, Steven Cho, Jason Lao, Devi Ngo, Matthew McKenzie, Claudia Nold-Petry, Marcel Nold
(2017), Vol. 101, pp. 901-911, Journal of leukocyte biology, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
M McKenzie, S Lim, M Duchen
(2017), Vol. 2017, Journal of Visualized Experiments, United States, C1-1
W Lee, X Sun, T Tsai, J Johnson, J Gould, D Garama, D Gough, M McKenzie, I Trounce, J St. John
(2017), Vol. 3, Cell Death Discovery, United States, C1-1
Ian Trounce, Jessica Ackerley, Matthew McKenzie
(2016), pp. 163-173, Mitochondrial DNA : methods and protocols, Berlin, Germany, B1-1
Y Kang, M Baker, M Liem, J Louber, M McKenzie, I Atukorala, C Ang, S Keerthikumar, S Mathivanan, D Stojanovski
(2016), Vol. 5, eLife, England, C1-1
S Lim, J Hroudová, N Van Bergen, M Lopez Sanchez, I Trounce, M McKenzie
(2016), Vol. 30, pp. 2236-2248, FASEB Journal, United States, C1-1
S Ellery, H Dickinson, M McKenzie, D Walker
(2016), Vol. 95, pp. 15-23, Neurochemistry International, England, C1-1
M McKenzie, M Duchen
(2016), Vol. 11, PLoS ONE, United States, C1-1
G Cagnone, T Tsai, Y Makanji, P Matthews, J Gould, M Bonkowski, K Elgass, A Wong, L Wu, M McKenzie, D Sinclair, J John
(2016), Vol. 6, Scientific Reports, England, C1-1
Combined defects in oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid β-oxidation in Mitochondrial disease
A Nsiah-Sefaa, M McKenzie
(2016), Vol. 36, Bioscience Reports, England, C1-1
J Cullen, N Murad, A Yeo, M McKenzie, M Ward, K Chong, N Schieber, R Parton, Y Lim, E Wolvetang, G Maghzal, R Stocker, M Lavin
(2016), Vol. 11, PLoS ONE, United States, C1-1
Deletion of the Complex I Subunit NDUFS4 Adversely Modulates Cellular Differentiation
J Johnson, W Lee, A Frazier, V Vaghjiani, A Laskowski, A Rodriguez, G Cagnone, M McKenzie, S White, D Nisbet, D Thorburn, J St. John
(2016), Vol. 25, pp. 239-250, Stem Cells and Development, United States, C1-1
Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA in induced pluripotent and embryonic stem cells
William Lee, Richard Kelly, Ka Yeung, Gael Cagnone, Matthew McKenzie, Justin St John
(2015), Vol. 1330, pp. 219-252, Cell reprogramming : methods and protocols, Berlin, Germany, B1-1
Characterization of mitochondrial FOXRED1 in the assembly of respiratory chain complex I
Luke Formosa, Masakazu Mimaki, Ann Frazier, Matthew McKenzie, Tegan Stait, David Thorburn, David Stroud, Michael Ryan
(2015), Vol. 24, pp. 2952-2965, Human molecular genetics, Oxford, Eng., C1-1
S Lim, K Carey, M McKenzie
(2015), Vol. 5, pp. 689-701, American Journal of Cancer Research, Madison, Wis., C1-1
Sze Lim, Katherine Smith, David Stroud, Alison Compton, Elena Tucker, Ayan Dasvarma, Luke Gandolfo, Justine Marum, Matthew McKenzie, Heidi Peters, David Mowat, Peter Procopis, Bridget Wilcken, John Christodoulou, Garry Brown, Michael Ryan, Melanie Bahlo, David Thorburn
(2014), Vol. 94, pp. 209-222, American Journal of Human Genetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
The identification of mitochondrial DNA variants in glioblastoma multiforme
Ka Yeung, Adam Dickinson, Jacqueline Donoghue, Galina Polekhina, Stefan White, Dimitris Grammatopoulos, Matthew McKenzie, Terrance Johns, Justin St John
(2014), Vol. 2, pp. 1-21, Acta neuropathologica communications, London, England, C1-1
Matthew McKenzie, Maria Chiotis, Jana Hroudová, Maria Lopez Sanchez, Sze Lim, Mark Cook, Penny McKelvie, Richard Cotton, Michael Murphy, Justin St John, Ian Trounce
(2014), Vol. 35, pp. 1476-1484, Human mutation, London, Eng., C1-1
M McKenzie
(2013), pp. 25-47, Mitochondrial DNA, mitochondria, disease and stem cells, New York, N.Y., B1-1
Richard Kelly, Andrew Rodda, Adam Dickinson, Arsalan Mahmud, Christian Nefzger, William Lee, John Forsythe, Jose Polo, Ian Trounce, Matthew McKenzie, David Nisbet, Justin St John
(2013), Vol. 31, pp. 703-716, Stem cells, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
The effects of nuclear reprogramming on mitochondrial DNA replication
Richard Kelly, Huseyin Sumer, Matthew McKenzie, Joao Facucho-Oliveira, Ian Trounce, Paul Verma, Justin St John
(2013), Vol. 9, pp. 1-15, Stem cell reviews and reports, Cham, Switzerland, C1-1
The regulation of mitochondrial DNA copy number in glioblastoma cells
A Dickinson, K Yeung, J Donoghue, M Baker, R Kelly, M McKenzie, T Johns, J St John
(2013), Vol. 20, pp. 1644-1653, Cell death & differentiation, London, Eng., C1-1
Mitochondrial dysfunction in a novel form of autosomal recessive ataxia
Nor Murad, Jason Cullen, Matthew McKenzie, Michael Ryan, David Thorburn, Nuri Gueven, Junya Kobayashi, Geoff Birrell, Jian Yang, Thilo Dörk, Olivier Becherel, Padraic Grattan-Smith, Martin Lavin
(2013), Vol. 13, pp. 235-245, Mitochondrion, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Ian Trounce, Peter Crouch, Kirstyn Carey, Matthew McKenzie
(2013), Vol. 1827, pp. 817-825, Biochimica et biophysica acta (BBA) - bioenergetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Richard Kelly, Arsalan Mahmud, Matthew McKenzie, Ian Trounce, Justin St John
(2012), Vol. 40, pp. 10124-10138, Nucleic acids research, Oxford, Eng., C1-1
Elena Tucker, Masakazu Mimaki, Alison Compton, Matthew McKenzie, Michael Ryan, David Thorburn
(2012), Vol. 33, pp. 411-418, Human mutation, Chichester, Eng., C1-1
Dillon Leong, Jasper Komen, Chelsee Hewitt, Estelle Arnaud, Matthew McKenzie, Belinda Phipson, Melanie Bahlo, Adrienne Laskowski, Sarah Kinkel, Gayle Davey, William Heath, Anne Voss, René Zahedi, James Pitt, Roman Chrast, Albert Sickmann, Michael Ryan, Gordon Smyth, David Thorburn, Hamish Scott
(2012), Vol. 287, pp. 20652-20663, Journal of biological chemistry, Rockville, Md., C1-1
Understanding mitochondrial complex I assembly in health and disease
Masakazu Mimaki, Xiaonan Wang, Matthew McKenzie, David Thorburn, Michael Ryan
(2012), Vol. 1817, pp. 851-862, Biochimica et biophysica acta (BBA) - bioenergetics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Matthew McKenzie, Elena Tucker, Alison Compton, Michael Lazarou, Christa George, David Thorburn, Michael Ryan
(2011), Vol. 414, pp. 413-426, Journal of molecular biology, London, Eng., C1-1
Elena Tucker, Steven Hershman, Caroline Köhrer, Casey Belcher-Timme, Jinal Patel, Olga Goldberger, John Christodoulou, Jonathon Silberstein, Matthew McKenzie, Michael Ryan, Alison Compton, Jacob Jaffe, Steven Carr, Sarah Calvo, Uttam RajBhandary, David Thorburn, Vamsi Mootha
(2011), Vol. 14, pp. 428-434, Cell metabolism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Other Public Sector Funding
The battle of tumours: growth kinetics and competition of DFT1 and DFT2
A/Prof Beata Ujvari, Dr Aaron Schultz, Dr Matthew McKenzie
DPIPWE Dr Eric Guiler Tasmanian Devil Research Grant
- 2021: $25,000
Industry and Other Funding
Investigating how primary defects in Short-Chain Enoyl-CoA Hydratase 1 cause secondary defects in oxidative phosphorylation
Dr Matthew McKenzie, Mr Harrison Burgin
Mito Foundation
- 2022: $1,500
- 2021: $3,000
- 2020: $3,000
- 2019: $3,000
Stimulating Mitochondrial Biogenesis to Treat Mitochondrial Disease
Dr Matthew McKenzie
Mito Foundation Booster Grant
- 2023: $75,000
Supervisions
Harrison Burgin
Thesis entitled: Primary defects in ECHS1 cause mitochondrial OXPHOS defects
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences
Eve Udino
Thesis entitled: Acoustic Developmental Programming of Behavioural and Physiological Responses to Heat
Doctor of Philosophy (Life & Env), School of Life and Environmental Sciences