Research Biographies

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DR ELIZABETH PATTON

Medical and Developmental Genetics

Programme Leader


Elizabeth Patton

Contact Details

E-mail address: elizabeth.patton@igmm.ed.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)131 332 2471
Fax: +44 (0)131 467 8456
Address: MRC Human Genetics Unit MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU
Research Programme: BRAF Signaling in Cancer and Development in Zebrafish

 

 

Research Areas

  • Melanoma Models: We have generated a model of melanoma in zebrafish based on the most frequently mutated gene in melanoma, BRAF. We are using this model to identify new melanoma cancer genes, and test for the role in melanoma initiation,progression and maintenance.
  • Melanocyte Development: During zebrafish development, melanocytes are easily visualized, establishing a pigmentation pattern with approximately 460 post-mitotic melanocytes. We use genetic and small molecule screening approached to understanding development of melanocytes in the living zebrafish embryo, with a view to how these processes may be misregulated in melanoma.
  • MAPK-signaling in developmental disease: While sporatic mutations in BRAF promote moles and melanoma, germ-line mutations in BRAF can lead to cardiofacio-cutaneous syndrome. We are using the zebrafish system to explore the action of these BRAF alleles, with implications for therapy.

 

Recent Publications

  • Patton EE: Live imaging in zebrafish reveals neu(trophil) insight into the metastatic niche. J Pathol 227:381-384, 2012.
    PubMed Abstract
  • Zhou L, Ishizaki H, Spitzer M, Taylor KL, Temperley ND, Johnson SL, Brear P, Gautier P, Zeng Z, Mitchell A, Narayan V, McNeil EM, Melton DW, Smith TK, Tyers M, Westwood NJ, Patton EE: ALDH2 Mediates 5-Nitrofuran Activity in Multiple Species. Chem Biol 19:883-892, 2012.
    PubMed Abstract
  • Colanesi S, Taylor KL, Temperley ND, Lundegaard PR, Liu D, North TE, Ishizaki H, Kelsh RN, Patton EE: Small molecule screening identifies targetable zebrafish pigmentation pathways
    Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 25:131-143, 2012.
    PubMed Abstract
  • Taylor KL, Lister JA, Zeng Z, Ishizaki H, Anderson C, Kelsh RN, Jackson IJ, Patton EE: Differentiated melanocyte cell division occurs in vivo and is promoted by mutations in Mitf
    9. Development 138:3579-3589, 2011. PubMed Abstract
  • Richardson J, Zeng Z, Ceol C, Mione M, Jackson IJ, Patton EE: A zebrafish model for nevus regeneration. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 24:378-381, 2011. PubMed Abstract
  • Donaldson LR, Wallace S, Haigh D, Patton EE, Hulme AN: Rapid synthesis and zebrafish evaluation of a phenanthridine-based small molecule library. Org Biomol Chem 9:2233-2239, 2011.
    PubMed Abstract
  • Patton, E.E. and Nairn, R.S. Xmrk in medaka: a new genetic melanoma model.
    J Invest Dermatol.     130(1):14-17, 2010 PubMed Abstract
  • Shu, X.; Zeng, Z.; Gautier, P.; Lennon, A.; Gakovic, M.; Patton, E.E. and Wright, A.F. Zebrafish Rpgr is required for normal retinal development and plays a role in dynein-based retrograde transport processes. Hum.Mol.Genet. 19(4):657-670, 2010 PubMed Abstract
  • Anastasaki, C.; Estep, A.L.; Marais, R.; Rauen, K.A. and Patton, E.E. Kinase-activating and kinase-impaired cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome alleles have activity during zebrafish development, and are sensitive to small molecule inhibitors. Hum.Mol.Genet 18(14):2543-2554, 2009 PubMed Abstract
  • Dovey, M.; Patton, E.E.; Bowman, T.; North, T.; Goessling, W.; Zhou, Y. and Zon, L.I. Topoisomerase II alpha is required for embryonic development and liver regeneration in zebrafish Mol.Cell Biol 29(13):3746-3753, 2009 PubMed Abstract
  • Poulton, L.D.; Nolan, K.F.; Anastasaki, C.; Waldmann, H. and Patton, E.E. A novel role for Glucocorticoid-Induced TNF Receptor Ligand (Gitrl) in early embryonic zebrafish development. Int.J Dev Biol e-pub July 1, 2009 PubMed Abstract

    Key/Selected Publications
  • Anastasaki, C.; Estep, A.L.; Marais, R.; Rauen, K.A. and Patton, E.E. Kinase-activating and kinase-impaired cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome alleles have activity during zebrafish development, and are sensitive to small molecule inhibitors. Hum.Mol.Genet 18(14):2543-2554, 2009 PubMed Abstract
  • Richardson, J.; Lundegaard, P.R.; Reynolds, N.L.; Dorin, J.R.; Porteous, D.J.; Jackson, I.J. and Patton, E.E. mc1r Pathway regulation of zebrafish melanosome dispersion. Zebrafish 5(4):289-295, 2008 PubMed Abstract
  • Amatruda, J.F. and Patton, E.E. Genetic models of cancer in zebrafish. Int Rev Cell Mol Biol 271:1-34, 2008 PubMed Abstract
  • Grzmil, M.; Whiting, D.; Maule, J.; Anastasaki, C.; Amatruda, J.F.; Kelsh, R.N.; Norbury, C.J. and Patton, E.E. The INT6 cancer gene and MEK signaling pathways converge during zebrafish development. PLoS ONE 2(9):e959, 2007 PubMed Abstract
  • Patton, E.E.; Widlund, H.R.; Kutok, J.L.; Kopani, K.R.; Amatruda, J.F.; Murphey, R.D.; Berghmans, S.; Mayhall, E.A.; Traver, D.; Fletcher, C.D.; Aster, J.C.; Granter, S.R.; Look, A.T.; Lee, C.; Fisher, D.E. and Zon, L.I. BRAF mutations are sufficient to promote nevi formation and cooperate with p53 in the genesis of melanoma. Curr Biol 15(3):249-254, 2005 PubMed Abstract