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How environment and hormones control the life cycle of the clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris. – SENSO
The interplay between life-history strategies, environment and the genome is a central question in biology. We are far from understanding how interactions between the environment and the genome contro
Deciphering the Cell Senescence Code to Improve Healthspan – S-ENCODE
Senescence is a cellular response to nonlethal genotoxic and oncogenic stress Cellular senescence is a double-edged sword process playing beneficial roles during embryogenesis, wound healing, and tumor suppression while contributing to age-related diseases. Consistently, senescent cells are enriched in the affected tissues of these diseases. Importantly, senescent cell elimination in animals prevents the appearance of age-related diseases.
Genetic and Mechanical Control of Myoblast Fusion. – MyoFuse
Here, we will investigate the mechanisms whereby TGFß signaling exerts its inhibiting action on fusion and its possible interplay with cellular and environmental mechanical properties. In addition, we will determine whether mechanical constraints at the cell membrane and in the microenvironment mediate and/or synergize with cell-cell signaling to inhibit fusion in vertebrates.
An antimicrobial origin of organelle targeting peptides – ChloroMitoRAMP
The vast majority of the proteome of bioenergetic organelles (chloroplasts and mitochondria) is imported into the organelle from the cytosol. This import is based on targeting peptides (oTP) located at the N-terminus of imported proteins, allowing their translocation through the envelope of organelles. The origin of these organelle targeting sequences and of the import machine that assist their translocation remains enigmatic.
Regulatory networks governing craniofacial muscle diversity – MyoHead
Craniofacial malformations are among the most common human birth defects and have multiple etiologies that affect diverse tissues. The underlying genetic, developmental and clinical causes of these malformations are largely unknown. Therefore we aim to identify all of the cell types that give rise to craniofacial structures and the molecular regulators that lead to the establishment and morphogenesis of the various cell lineages in the head.
Control of vesicular flows by golgins – VesicleFiltering
The golgine GMAP-210 recognizes vesicles crossing the Golgi apparatus on the basis of their high curvature and lipid unsaturation level. Do other Golgines recognize other physicochemical properties of membranes? Does the role of GMAP-210 in immunological synapse formation also involve recognition of highly unsaturated membranes?
The mechanobiology of adipocytes: Role of the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 in adipose tissue development and obesity-associated metabolic disorders – ADIPOPIEZO
White and brown adipocytes, and adipose progenitors, are mechanosensitive cells, suggesting that mechanosensors regulate their functions. Our preliminary results indicated high levels of expression of the mechanosensitive ion channel Piezo1 in adipocytes and adipose progenitors. In this project, we hypothesized that activation of Piezo1 in adipose cells is a novel mechanism of control of adipocyte function/expansion, impacting the development of obesity and its metabolic complications.
Development of Metabolic Organ-Specific Biomarkers of Diabetes using a novel quantitative metabolomics approach: the liquid metabolic biopsy concept – MelODies
The main current challenge of diabetes is present before the occurrence of clinical symptoms. Thus, there is an urgent need for novel biomarkers of diebetes onset and progression. Current biomarker discovery uses data-driven non-targeted metabolomics approach on venous blood or urine samples. Unfortunately, these metabolites provide a whole-body view, offering little mechanistic information on organ metabolism and function. Their potential for targets organ-specific therapeutics is then limited.
The microbiome-gut-brain axis in Autism Spectrum Disorder – MICROBIAUTISM
The pathophysiological role of the gut microbiota in ASD and the mechanisms underlying microbiota-induced gut-brain axis dysfunctions remain unknown. To lift this scientific barrier, we hypothesize in the Microbioautism project that gut dysbiosis in patients with ASD results in an abnormal composition of metabolites contributing to altered gut and brain functions.
Targeting PUFA metabolism in MAcrophages In cardiovascular diseases – PUMAs
Fatty acids are essential in the control of macrophage functions: they contribute to energy supply that govern macrophages (re)programming, they are also key components of cell membranes and precursors of signaling molecules. While most of genes involved in FA metabolism in macrophages are now identified, the consequences of their modulation are still largely to be explored in terms of regulation of cell functions and their implication in CVD diseases.