Presentation
The Biotechnology and Cell Signalling (Biotechnologie et signalisation cellulaire – BSC) joint research unit (UMR 7242) is co-supervised by the French National Centre for Scientific Research (Centre national de la recherche scientifique – CNRS) and the University of Strasbourg. It hosts a research team certified by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale – INSERM) and develops research at the crossroads of functional genomics and biological chemistry approaches with the aim of decoding cell signalling pathways and developing new therapeutical strategies.
The unit is made up of eight research teams:
- Poly (ADP-ribosylation) and genome integrity (F. Dantzer)
- Nuclear signalling and cancer (K. Zanier)
- Epigenetic regulation of cellular identity (M. Weber)
- The chemistry of bio-systems: intrinsically disordered proteins (V. Torbeev)
- Therapeutic peptides (D. Bagnard, ERL INSERM)
- Metals and microorganisms: biology, chemistry and application (I. Schalk/G. Mislin)
- RCPG, pain and inflammation (F. Simonin)
- Neuroimmunology and peptide therapy (P. Georgel)
Research topics
Genome integrity and regulation
This research topic focuses on: 1) the role of PARPs in genome repair; 2) the functional architecture of the complexes that regulate the p53 and Hippo pathways; 3) the role of DNA methylation in the maintenance of cellular identity.
Pathogens and antimicrobial strategies
We study bacterial iron homoeostasis and use it to develop new antimicrobial strategies and innovations.
Pain, inflammation and autoimmune diseases
The aim of this research topic is to elucidate the role of GPCRs in inflammation and chronic pain as well as immune responses and their dysregulation during autoimmune diseases in order to develop new therapeutic approaches.
Chemical and biological engineering
Peptides, proteins and mimics, as well as delivery systems and organoids are developed to define new active ingredients and new preclinical test models. These tools of synthetic biology are mainly applied in the above research areas.
Major events and works
- Al Hadami H, Systematic identification of factors involved in the silencing of germline genes in mouse embryonic stem cells. Nucleic Acids Res 11:gkad071 (2023)
- Spragge F, Microbiome diversity protects against pathogens by nutrient blocking. Science 382 (6676) (2023)
- Adiguzel Y, Shared Pathogenicity Features and Sequences between EBV, SARS-CoV-2, and HLA Class I Molecule-binding Motifs with a Potential Role in Autoimmunity. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 65:206-230 (2023)
- Takahashi DT, Topoisomerase I (TOP1) dynamics: conformational transition from open to closed states. Nat Commun 13:59 (2022)
- Nguekeu-Zebaze L, PARP3 supervises G9a-mediated repression of adhesion and hypoxia-responsive genes in glioblastoma cells. Scientific Reports 12:15534 (2022)
- Zeder-Lutz G, Characterization of anti-GASP motif antibodies that inhibit the interaction between GPRASP1 and G protein-coupled receptors. Anal Biochem 665:115062 (2023)
- J. Wagner, New fusion peptides as antimicrobial agents, European Patent Application (brevet européen), n° EP 19305065.5, 2019
- G. Mislin, Triazole derivatives with antibiotic properties, European Patent Application (brevet européen), n° EP 18305771.0– 1109, 2018
- M.Wilhelm,« Contrôle du système immunitaire dans le lupus », Arthritis Rheum, 70, 1077-1088, 2018
- S. Conic, « Observation de protéines dans le noyau de cellules vivantes », Journal of Cell Biology, 217, 1537-1552, 2018
- D. Desplancq, « 102 atomes pour explorer l’intérieur d'une cellule vivante », ACS Applied Nano Materials, doi : 10.1021/acsanm.8b00988, 2018
- Drieu la Rochelle, « Vers une analgésie sans tolérance », Pain, 59, 1705-1718, 2018
- F. Simonin et al., Hybrid mu opioid receptor and neuropeptide FF receptor binding molecules, European Patent Application (brevet européen), n° EP 18305256.2, 2018
- F. Simonin et al., Compounds for the treatment of pain, European Patent Application (brevet européen), n° EP 18305117, 2018
- S.F.S. Waqas, « Neuropeptide FF : une nouvelle hormone qui protège le tissu adipeux de l'inflammation », Journal of Clinical Investigation, 127, 2842-2854, 2017
- D. Martinez-Zapien, « Mécanisme viral de dégradation de la "gardienne du génome" », Nature, 529, 541-545, 2016
- G. Auclair, « Découverte d'une nouvelle voie épigénétique », Genome Research, 26, 192-202, 2016
- J.-L. Galzi et al., Pyrimidinone derivatives and uses thereof to neutralize chemokines, European Patent Application (brevet européen), n° EP 16305908.2, 2016
- F. Simonin et al., Metabolically stable spexin peptide analogs, European Patent Application (brevet européen), n° EP 16305734.2, 2016