Cell Dynamics - EMT and Directional Cell Migration

Presentation

Our lab focuses on mechanisms of cell dynamics: epithelial-mesenchymal transition, directional cell migration, cell polarity and tissue mechanics. We aim at understanding basic principles that rule cell movements in complex environments during embryogenesis and cancer. We use embryos as tools to better understand the function of key players in cancer progression and muscular diseases such as the extracellular matrix, metalloproteinases and guidance cues.

We use two experimental models: chicken embryo (neural crest, mesoderm) and the xenopus embryo (neural crest). Neural Crest and mesoderm development rely on several oncogenes (snail, twist, ets...) and their overall behaviour recapitulates the main steps of tumour metastasis in a controlled, reproducible manner, facilitating experimental approaches. Mesoderm development allows us to study repeated rounds of EMT and MET in a single cell type.

Our goal is to use our findings on experimental models to better understand cell dynamics defects occurring in diseases (cancer, inflammation).

 

If you are interested in working on cell migration and EMT in a multidisciplinary environment, we are always looking for post-doc and PhD applicants.

Informal enquiries can be sent directly to Eric Theveneau at - eric.theveneau[at]univ-tlse3.fr

Follow me on Twitter @EricTheveneau

Theveneau lab - march 2018

From left to right: E. Theveneau, F. Bajanca, C. Andrieu, O. Vantroeyen, N. Gouignard, E. Despin-Guitard, A. Bibonne.

Projets

Functions and substrates of Metalloproteinases during EMT an cell migration

Cell dynamics and tissue mechanics during epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Signal integration during directional cell migration

Publications

• Cathy Danesin, Marina A. Ferreira, Pierre Degond and Eric Theveneau.
  Anteroposterior elongation of the chicken anterior trunk neural tube is hindered by interaction with its surrounding tissues
  Cells & Development
  2021 Jul
• Danesin, C., Darche-Gabinaud, R., Escalas, N. et al..
  Sulf2a controls Shh-dependent neural fate specification in the developing spinal cord
  Sci Rep 11, 118 (2021)
  2021 Jan https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80455-2
• Nadege Gouignard Christian Rouviere and Eric Theveneau.
  Using Xenopus Neural Crest Explants to Study Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
  Methods in Molecular Biology
  2020 Sep
• Analysis of Cellular EMT States Using Molecular Biology and High Resolution FISH Labeling
  Methods Molecular Biology
  2020 May chapter. Vol. 2179, Kyra Campbell and Eric Theveneau (Eds): The Epithelial-to Mesenchymal Transition
• Andrieu, Montigny, Bibonne, Despin-Guitard, Alfandari & Theveneau*.
  MMP14 is required for delamination of chick neural crest cells independently of its catalytic activity
  Development
  2020 Apr *corresponding author

View all publications

Funding

       

Alumni

Audrey Montigny - Engineer 2013-2015

Matthieu Brunet - Undergrad. 2015.

Anna B. Berki - Undergrad. 2015.

Elena Scarpa - EMBO short-term visiting PhD student (University College London), 2014.