Academic Staff - Dr Murray Thomson

Areas of Interest

Cellular and Molecular Biology

I am fascinated as to how cells and organelles communicate with each other in order to function in homeostasis and coordinate functions during growth and development. I am also interested in the use of cellular and molecular techniques in biotechnology. In the past I have discovered new cardiostimulants in sea anemones, studied the effects of nutrition on cell signaling systems in sheep skin and found novel proteins that may be regulating steroid hormone production and development in the human placenta. At present I am working on determining how protein kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) and G proteins modulate mitochondrial physiology and I am collaborating on a project to identify allergens in fungi.

Educational Research

I am keen to continue research aimed at increasing the depth of learning through techniques such as motivation and the use of multimedia. I am also interested in the effects of curriculum development in competency and capability based education.

Honours Projects

Heat Shock Proteins as Indicators of Stress in Echinoderms

Supervisors: Maria Byrne (Anatomy and Histology), Murray Thomson.

Many newly expressed cellular proteins need a little help to fold into their correct 3 dimensional structure and they are given this help by specialized proteins that are referred to as molecular chaperones. Heat shock proteins are a major family of molecular chaperones and these proteins were discovered for their ability to help reform the high levels of incorrectly folded proteins that are produced by elevated temperatures.

This kind of stress is pertinent to organisms that live in marine environments with widely fluctuating temperatures and of increasing interest in the face of climate change. This presents an exciting opportunity to work in the field and the lab in studying the cellular effects of environmental stress on marine creatures such as sea urchins and sea stars (an adult and juvenile of each shown below) and you can work in both Maria’s, and my lab.

For more honours project opportunities in Behaviour, Physiology and Ecology click here.

Behaviour, Physiology and Ecology Lab

This is a large and modern shared lab space utilized by academics, postdocs, PhD and honours students and other researchers. Equipment includes a cryostat to cut thin sections of tissue, electrophoresis gear for nucleic acid and protein studies and digital microscopes that can record with stills and video.

Research Output

• Thomson M (2013) The Physiological Roles of Placental Corticotropin Releasing Hormone in Pregnancy and Childbirth. Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry. DOI: 10.1007/s13105-012-0227-2.
• Nguyen HD, Thomson M, Byrne M (2012) Heat shock protein expression as a function of temperature and season in Heliocidaris sea urchins. Echinoderms in a Changing World, ed. Craig Johnson, CRC Press
• Ma MPC, Thomson M (2012) Protein kinase A subunit alpha catalytic and A kinase anchoring protein 79 in human placental mitochondria. The Open Biochemistry Journal 6, 23-30.
• Zivanovic A, Pastro N J, Fromont J, Thomson M, Skropeta D (2011) Kinase Inhibitory, Haemolytic and cytotoxic activity of three deep-water sponges from North Western Australia and their fatty acid composition. Natural Product Communications 6, 1921-1924 .
• Thomson M (2010) Mouthparts of the deep-sea isopod Bathynomus pelor (Isopoda, Cirolanidae). Crustaceana 83, 1483-1506.
• Thomson M (2010) Challenges and achievements in developing competencies in digital microscopy. Synergy 30, 57-60.
• Thomson M (2010) Signal transduction of steroidogenic hormones to the adrenal and gonadal mitochondria and the possibilities for combating lipoid congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Current Signal Transduction Therapy 5, 161-169.
• Thomson M, Robertson K, Pile, A (2009) Microscopic structure of the antennulae and antennae on the deep sea isopod Bathynomus pelor. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 29, 302-316.
• Thomson M (2008) The effects of placental corticotrophin releasing hormone on the physiology and psychology of the pregnant woman. Current Women's Health Reviews 4, 270-279.
• Thomson M, Herbert JF, Thompson MB (2006) Tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in the reproductive tract of the viviparous lizard Eulamprus tympanum and the oviparous lizard Lampropholis guichenoti. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, 144, 382-386.
• Thomson M (2006) HoxA10 and the transition from oviparity to viviparity. Herpetological Monographs 20, 212-218.
• Thomson M, Herbert JF, Murphy CR, Thompson MB (2005) HoxA10-like proteins in the reproductive tract of the viviparous lizard Eulamprus tympanum and the oviparous lizard Lampropholis guichenoti. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part B 142, 123-127.
• Thomson M (2003) Does cholesterol use the mitochondrial contact site as a conduit to the steroidogenic pathway? BioEssays 25, 252-258.
• Thomson M, McCarroll J, Bond J, Gordon-Thomson C, Williams E, Moore GPM (2003) Parathyroid hormone-related peptide modulates signal pathways in skin and hair follicle cells. Journal of Experimental Dermatology 12, 389-395.
• Thomson M (2002) The regulation of mitochondrial physiology by organelle associated GTP-binding proteins. Cell Biochemistry and Function 4, 273-278.
• Kuyznierewicz I, Thomson M (2002) GTP-binding proteins Gsalpha, Gialpha and ran identified in mitochondria of human placenta. Cell Biology International, 26, 99-108.
• Phillips P, Thomson M (2002) Small GTP-binding proteins in the nuclei of human placenta. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 84, 100-107.
• Thomson M (2002) Phosphoproteins and protein kinases in mitochondria: Evidence of undiscovered cell regulatory mechanisms. Cellular & Molecular Life Sciences 59, 213-219.
• Corso M, Thomson M (2001) Protein Phosphorylation in Mitochondria from Human Placenta. Placenta 22; 432-439.
• Kuyznierewicz I, Thomson M (2000) GTP-Binding proteins in mitochondria of human placentae identified as G alpha i and ran. Molecular Steroidogenesis (eds Okamoto M, Ishimura Y, Nawata H) Universal Academy Press, Tokyo, Japan. pp 287-288.