Research area 

The "Exocytosis" group studies neurotransmitters and hormones secretion.
To reach exocytosis sites, secretion vesicles move in a complex environment combining balistic trajectories promoted by molecular motors and diffusive movments. Vesicles mobility and plama membrane docking are analysed with  vidéomicroscopy and  evanescent  microscopy (TIRFM).
Neurotransmitters and hormones release is due to the fusion of the vesicle with the plasma membrane (exocytosis) , a calcium dependant phenomenon. We aim to understand this fusion process and in particular, factors governing fusion pore dynamics ( SNARE proteins, cytosqueleton , membrane tension ).
The group is also interested in membrane repair in muscular cells , a phenomenon linked to organelles exocytosis like lysosomes.
Finally, we vould like to study Alzheimer's disease physiopathology by characterizing amyloid peptide internalization and its effect on lysosomes and autophagy.

 

Localization of Rab27a on secretory granules in PC12 cells