Ciarán BUTLER-HALLISSEY                    Harrison YORK

Mapping microtubule turnover and remodelling during neuron development

Neurons have a complex cytoskeletal architecture which enables a stable polarised arborisation that lasts decades, but can also undergo dynamic rearrangements underlying development, learning and adaption. Central to this balance of stability and plasticity are microtubules, dynamic polymers of tubulin that support the long-range transport of neuronal components. In this seminar we will present two on-going projects within the Leterrier (NeuroCyto) Lab aimed towards understanding mechanistically how neurons regulate the turnover (1) and function (2) of subcellular populations of microtubules. Microtubules grow and shrink from their tips but recent studies have shown that they can also be renewed by directly incorporating tubulin into their assembled lattices, which we hypothesise may be critical for the long-lifetimes of neuronal microtubules. Firstly, we will present how using microinjection of labelled tubulin in combination with super-resolution microscopy, we are able to dissect the differential patterns of microtubule in-lattice renewal and plus-tip growth during the process of neurite specification in ex vivo cultures of embryonic rat hippocampal neurons. In the second part of the seminar, we will describe a newer project investigating how tubulin conformational changes within the shafts of microtubules may act as reversible signals, dictating the preferential binding of different microtubule associated proteins (MAPs). These MAPs can in turn, influence the binding and trafficking of motor proteins, thereby dictate the spatiotemporal distribution of organelles and other neuronal cargo. Together these projects represent on-going efforts within the team to uncover general mechanisms by which molecular-scale interactions of the microtubule cytoskeleton can support polarity emergence and neuronal cellular organisation.

Simone Mastrogiacomo

Development of Brain Vectors for Therapeutics and Imaging Agents

Early Amyloid-β Deposits and Astrogliosis AreModulated by Housing Conditions in 5xFAD Mice

Epigenetic mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) play a determining role in disease progression. To provided further insight on this matter, we evaluated whether early exposure of 5xFAD mice to either a standard, isolated or complex environment have a significant effect on the development of pathological hallmarks in this transgenic mouse model of AD. Accordingly, we manipulated the animal environment with different housing conditions that result in different cognitive and social stimuli. One month after birth followed by two months breeding under three different housing conditions, amyloid plaques and gliosis were evaluated. Our results demonstrated that both hallmarks were exacerbated in a complex environment and a bit less in isolated condition, in comparison with a standard social condition of housing. Thus, unexpectedly, an enriched environment conveying high behavioral stimulation can exacerbate the progression of the disease at least in the early stages. These data casts doubt on the general assumption that an enriched environment conveys beneficial effects on disease progression and suggest that strong environmental stimuli can be counterproductive, at least at the early stages of the pathology.

Il fait beau, il fait chaud!!! Pour marquer la fin de l'année (scolaire), nous vous proposons un apéro/Plage jeudi 3 juillet à partir de 18h sur la plage de l'Huveaune. Chacun amène un truc à partager (à boire ou à manger).

Bonne journée

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Hello everyone,

It's sunny, it's hot! To mark the end of the (school) year, we're hosting an aperitif/beach party on Thursday, July 3, starting at 6pm on the Huveaune beach. Everyone brings something to share (food or drink).

Have a nice day
 

L'équipe Animation

Présentation par Marseille Immunology Biocluster

En attente de précisions

Bonjour à tou.te.s

L'équipe animation vous propose de nous réunir mardi 6 mai à partir de 12h sur la pelouse devant le grand hall pour un pique nique printannier. Chacun amène son repas, sa boisson...

Bonne journée

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Hello everyone

The animation team invites you to join us on Tuesday May 6 from 12pm on the lawn in front of the main hall for a springtime picnic. Bring your own food and drink...

Have a nice day!

1et COPIL PFNT de l'année

Conseil de Laboratoire (CDL) #3 (initialement prévu le 26/09)

Conseil de Laboratoire (CDL)

Reunion de responsables d'équipe