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Polarity and Morphogenesis

Antoine GUICHET

 

Our research team aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that control cell polarity and tissue morphogenesis in relation with the cytoskeleton and in particular with the microtubule network.

Keywords: Cell polarity, morphogenesis, microtubules, asymmetric transport, phospholipids, PAR protein complexes

 +33 (0)1 57 27 80 76   Contact   @GuichetLab

The understanding of the mechanisms, which orchestrate tissue and organ formation and which control their architecture maintenance, is a fundamental question in biology. Tissue formation and associated homeostasis are coordinated through cellular processes that include cell polarity, cell adhesion and motility. The understanding of these processes is also essential to better understand the molecular mechanisms controlling the development of pathologies such as cancer.

Our research team aims to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that control cell polarity and tissue morphogenesis in relation with the cytoskeleton and in particular with the microtubule network. To do so we are using Drosophila development as model system and we focus our research especially on two axes.

  1. At a cellular level, by exploring cytoskeleton requirement for the oocyte polarity establishment during oogenesis. We are investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in protein and mRNA asymmetric transport and those required for the asymmetric positioning of the nucleus.
  2. At a tissue level, by studying cytoskeleton requirement in tissue morphogenesis. We are looking for the molecular processes controlling collective cell migration required for the establishment of the reparatory system during embryogenesis.

We are using both conventional and innovative methodologies by combining genetic, biophysics and cell biology technics. Furthermore, live imaging associated with advanced light microscopy and electron microscopy are the core our experiments.

Nuclear migration in the Drosophila oocyte

Membrane organisation in the Drosophila oocyte

Collective migration of tracheal
cells in the Drosophila embryo

The research topics of the team:

* Identification of mechanisms controlling the asymmetric positioning of the nucleus in the oocyte.

* Identification and characterisation of the different microtubule networks required for the oocyte polarisation.

* Relationship between the lipid domains connected to phosphatidylinositol(4,5) biphosphate and the polarity proteins in the intracellular organisation and the polarized transport.

* Characterisation of the cytoskeleton requirement, microtubules and actin, in the collective cell migration process controlling the formation of the tracheal branches in the embryo.

 

Nuclear migration in the Drosophila oocyte

 

Membrane organisation in the Drosophila oocyte

Collective migration of tracheal cells in the Drosophila embryo