Control of microtubule functions by the tubulin code

Responsable du Stage : Carsten Janke and Sudarshan Gadadhar

Tél : (0) 1 69 86 31 27                       E-mail: carsten.janke@curie.fr; sudarshan.gadadhar@curie.fr

Curie Orsay

Résumé du Projet de Stage 

We are a team of microtubule enthusiasts aiming at understanding how a regulatory mechanism known as the ‘tubulin code’ controls the microtubule cytoskeleton.

The ‘tubulin code’ is essential for the functioning of nerve cells, for cilia and flagella and for cell division. We demonstrated that perturbations of the tubulin code lead to neurodegeneration, promote tumorigenesis and result in dysfunctions of cilia and flagella.

Using an interdisciplinary approach, we want to understand how the tubulin code regulates microtubules at the molecular level to control cellular functions and organism homeostasis.

We recruit creative and enthusiastic students motivated for interdisciplinary research.

Candidates will be given the opportunity to design their own master projects based on their interests. During their internship, candidates will receive close guidance from experienced researchers of our team, and will also interact with international collaborators.

Students acquire up-to-date technical expertise, learn to independently design experiments, and will be trained in communication skills during our weekly lab meetings. Successful master students will be able to apply for a PhD studentship to pursue their work in our team.

Our lab offers projects in the domains of biology, developmental biology and biochemistry.

  1. Molecular control of microtubule interactions with associated proteins (MAPs) – cytoskeletal architecture.
  2. Polyglutamylation in neuronal development and function – neurodegeneration.
  3. Glycylation in ciliary function and flagellar beating – male fertility.
  4. The impact of tubulin mutations on microtubule mechanics, dynamics and functions – neurodevelopmental disorders.

 Our team has expertise in a range of modern experimental techniques, such as

  • Molecular cloning and protein expression in mammalian cells
  • Lentivirus-mediated gene delivery
  • In vitro reconstitution assays and TIRF microscopy
  • CRISPR-Cas9 gene engineering
  • Cell biology (including primary cell culture); live-cell imaging with spinning disk microscopy; long-term imaging with Incucyte
  • Mouse biology, histology

More details: https://science.curie.fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/M2_project_JANKE.pdf

Dernières Publications en lien avec le projet :

Gadadhar S, Alvarez Viar G, Hansen JN, Gong A, Kostarev A, Ialy-Radio C, Leboucher S, Whitfield M, Ziyyat A, Toure A, Alvarez L, Pigino G, Janke C (2021) Tubulin glycylation controls axonemal dynein activity, flagellar beat, and male fertility. Science 371: eabd4914

Janke C, Magiera MM (2020) The tubulin code and its role in controlling microtubule properties and functions. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 21: 307-326

Magiera MM, Singh P, Gadadhar S, Janke C (2018) Tubulin Posttranslational Modifications and Emerging Links to Human Disease. Cell 173: 1323-1327

Magiera MM, Bodakuntla S, Ziak J, Lacomme S, Marques Sousa P, Leboucher S, Hausrat TJ, Bosc C, Andrieux A, Kneussel M, Landry M, Calas A, Balastik M, Janke C (2018) Excessive tubulin polyglutamylation causes neurodegeneration and perturbs neuronal transport. EMBO J 37: e100440

Gadadhar S, Dadi H, Bodakuntla S, Schnitzler A, Bieche I, Rusconi F, Janke C (2017) Tubulin glycylation controls primary cilia length. J Cell Biol 216: 2701-2713

Ce projet s’inscrit-il dans la perspective d’une thèse :
oui X

ED d’appartenance : SDSV (www.ed-sdsv.u-psud.fr)

210628 FicheaccueilM2-BMC-2021-2022 JANKE

Equipes d’Accueil : 

Intitulé de l’Unité : Department Genome Integrity, RNA and Cancer

Nom du Responsable de l’Unité : Stephan VAGNER
Nom du Responsable de l’Équipe : Carsten JANKE

Centre Universitaire, Bât. 110, Rue Henri Becquerel, CS 90030, 91401 ORSAY Cedex