Teams

Dynamics and Control of Biological Assemblies and Macromolecular Machines - J. Martin / R. Pellarin: We are a horizontal team of four researchers in computational biology. We study molecular machines and assemblies at different scales (atomistic, coarse-grained, normal modes analysis, and kinetic models) in order to understand and control their functioning in cellular and pathological context. Leveraging the power of molecular modeling, we employ advanced techniques and high performance computing to simulate and analyze the behavior of biological molecules with a focus on unraveling the intricacies of their interactions. Our expertise extends to structural bioinformatics, computational chemistry and integrative modeling where we combine in silico approaches and experimental data to extract meaningful information from biological data, aiding in the interpretation and control of complex molecular structures, their interactions and functions.
Complexity, plasticity, and functionality of miRNAs - K. Jouravleva: We elucidate the mechanism of modular layer of post-transcriptional control formed by miRNAs, which confers developmental robustness and enables generating complex cellular responses to environmental challenges and pathological conditions.
Genome mechanics - A. Piazza: DNA is a busy molecule teeming with a zoo of static binders and molecular motors. DNA's informational, structural, and organizational properties are exploited by, or regulate, multiple protein-mediated activities. Our goal is to determine the interplay between the active 3D organization of DNA in the nucleus and the molecular process of target search by protein in DNA. We study this general question in the particular case of the repair of DNA break by homologous recombination. Homologous recombination is a universal DNA break repair pathway that uses an intact DNA molecule as a repair template, which has to be identified in the whole genome by the broken molecule. We study the basic mechanism of this search for homology in both somatic cells and in meiosis using budding yeast as a model organism.
Physical Biology of Chromatin - D. Jost: In close connection with experimental biology, our research addresses generic or specific biological questions on chromatin and gene regulation by developing physical and computational models. Particularly, we focus on the spatio-temporal dynamics of eukaryotic chromosomes. Our research tackles important questions regarding the coupling between 3D structure and functions of chromatin. Our objective is to provide some universal principles driving chromatin folding and regulation, while contextualizing our approaches to fundamental, specific problems of 3D genomics.
Epigenetics and Zygote Formation - B. Loppin: The formation of a diploid zygote from two highly different gametes is a critical aspect of sexual reproduction in animals. Notably, the transmission of the paternal genome implies unique chromatin reorganization events that take place during spermiogenesis and at fertilization.
RNA metabolism in immunity and infection (RMI2) - E. Ricci: We are interested in post-transcriptional control mechanisms that regulate gene expression in cells of the immune system and during pathogen infections. Through the use of high-throughput sequencing and biochemical approaches we aim at identifying new regulatory layers that govern immune cell activation and host-pathogen interactions.
Epigenetic regulation of cell identity and environmental stress responses - F. Palladino: We are interested in understanding the role of conserved chromatin marks in the maintenance of germline identity and the response to environmental stress. To adress these questions, we are using C. elegans as a model organism. We use a combination of genetic, biochemical and genome wide approaches.
Evolutionary Cell Biology in Nematodes - M. Delattre: We investigate unconventional modes of DNA transmission and genome regulation, exploring their evolutionary origins and consequences. Our primary focus is on nematode species that are lab tractable, enabling seamless integration of bioinformatic and experimental methodologies
Regulated Cell Death and Genetics of Neurodegeneration - B. Mollereau: The general goal of our lab is to understand the mechanisms of cell death, ER stress, autophagy and metabolism during development and in neurodegenerative diseases. We characterize those responses in physiological and pathological situations in the Drosophila retina, brain and during spermatogenesis.
Quantitative regulatory genomics - M. Francesconi: Why are individuals different? We address this fundamental question by studying both genetic and non-genetic sources of phenotypic variation, using both genome-wide computational and experimental systems biology approaches in model organisms. In particular, we are interested in understanding how gene expression is regulated in space and time to contribute to phenotypic variation.
Regulation of Genome Architecture and Dynamics of Splicing (ReGArDS) - D. Auboeuf and C. Bourgeois: Our team is interested in the regulation of alternative splicing, the main process allowing to largely increase the functional diversity of proteins coded by a limited number of genes in higher organisms.
Comparative and Integrative Genomics of Organ Development - S.Pantalacci/M. Semon: We compare genomes and transcriptomes to highlight general rules about the development and/or the evolution of organs.
Posttranscriptional Regulation in Infection and Oncogenesis - Jalinot/Mocquet: Our main research interest is to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying oncogenesis, with a particular interest in the role of genetic instability in the process. Towards this goal we focused our attention on leukemogenesis driven by infection with the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1).
Epithelial differentiation and morphogenesis in Drosophila - M. Grammont
Systems Biology of Decision Making - O. Gandrillon: The molecular mechanisms controlling decision making at the cellular level between self-renewal and differentiation are still poorly understood. The central question of our group consists in understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling self-renewal and the alteration of these mechanisms in relation to the onset of cancer.
Chromatin Dynamics in Mitotic Chromosome Assembly - P. Bernard: The ability of the genome to adopt a dynamic 3D organisation underlies most DNA transactions. The profound reorganisation of long chromatin fibres into rod-shaped chromosomes in mitosis is an iconic example of this structural dynamics. The main goal of our research is to understand the cellular mechanisms that take place at the chromatin level for the assembly of segregation-competent mitotic chromosomes. We use the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and human cultured cells as model systems.

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