Description of the research topics

• Understanding the regulation of mRNA expression controlled by AU-rich elements
  AU-rich elements (ARE) are short nucleotide sequences present in mRNA 3’ untranslated regions (UTR) which are important post-transcriptional regulators of mRNA translation and stability. Originally described as elements controlling genes involved in mammalian immune responses, AREs have been shown to be present in about 10% of the mRNA population and are cis-active elements conserved throughout evolution from yeast to humans. A wide variety of AER-binding proteins have been shown to interact with AREs. Our work is focused on understanding the molecular mechanism by which the ARE-BPs control the fate of their mRNA targets. First described as elements controlling genes involved in mammalian immune responses, ARE were shown to occur in about 10% of the mRNA population and to be evolutionary conserved cis-acting elements from yeast to human. A large variety of ARE Binding protein have been shown to interact with AREs. Our work is focused on understanding the molecular mechanism by which ARE-BP control the fate of their mRNA targets.
  
  
• Understanding the mechanisms controlling mRNA translation under cellular stress conditions
  The ability of living organisms to respond rapidly to changes in the cellular environment is essential for survival, and numerous strategies for dealing with cell stresses have evolved. In metazoans, translational regulation allows a quick response to environmental cues by controlling the production of protein from existing cellular mRNAs in a reversible manner and at relatively low cost. We are taking advantage of the Drosophila melanogaster model to study the molecular mechanisms controlling translation under stress conditions. We are particularly interested in understanding how several cellular stresses such as hypoxia can at the same time impose a global inhibition of translation while allowing the translational activation of small specific mRNA subsets. 

Members

Principal Investigator

GUEYDAN, Cyril

PhD

Cyril was trained as a molecular biologist at the University of Montpellier (France) and at ULB. He is now associate professor at ULB where he teaches molecular Biology. Cyril has a long-standing interest in studying the post-transcriptional mechanisms controlling gene expression in eukaryotic organisms. His work is mainly focused on the control of mRNA stability and translation.

Send an email

PhD Student

HODY, Clara

MSc

Clara joined the lab in 2019. She obtained a FNRS aspirant Scholarship to study the role of mRNA 3’Untranslated region in translation dependent stress adaptation. Clara works under the joined supervision of Cyril Gueydan (Laboratoire de Biologie moléculaire du gene, ULB) and Mathieu Defrance (IBI2, ULB).

Send an email

Previous Lab Member

DE TOEUF, Bérengère

PhD

Bérengère joined the lab in 2014. She obtained a FRIA scholarship to prepare a PhD on the post-trancriptional regulation of gene expression during cellular adaptation to stress with a special focus on the role of the Tristetraprolin protein in controlling mRNA degradation. Bérengère graduated in 2019 and continue her work in the lab as a post-doctoral researcher.

Send an email

LIANG, Manfei

MSc

Manfei obtained a Msc from Shandong University (China). In 2015, she obtained a scholarship from China Scholarship Council and joined the lab to prepare a PhD on the control of mRNA translation under hypoxic conditions.

Send an email