Our lab has a long‑standing interest in the interplay between nuclear organization and genome function.

Over the years, our team has developed strong expertise in molecular approaches including next-generation-sequencing (NGS)-based approaches (ChIP-seq, RNA-seq, etc.), live-cell imaging and more recently single-molecule microscopy (PALM: Photoactivated localization microscopy).

As a model to study cell-to-cell heterogeneity, our lab studies budding yeast during quiescence and upon return to growth.

Quiescence ensures survival in the face of unfavorable conditions through the establishment of a reversible, non-growing state, a property involved in the persistence of pathogens in their host. The genome of budding yeast quiescent cells adopts a very specific conformation associated with a massive decrease in transcriptional activity, two features that contribute to their longevity (Guidi et al, 2015; McKnight et al, 2015).  Return to growth is a key step for survival in a competitive environment and requires (re)establishing the transcriptional program adapted to the available resources. Combining genetics with super-resolution microscopy (PALM), chromatin profiling (ChIp-seq) and transcriptome analysis will allow decipheromg the mechanisms leading to genome reactivation in relation to chromatin unfolding.

Following genome reactivation at the single-cell level using multiplex RNA-FISH (in collaboration with the Bienko lab), our lab wants to assess the contribution of cell to cell heterogeneity in helping the population to adapt to unpredictable conditions.

Chromatin, epigenetics, nuclear architecture, nuclear compartments

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (budding yeast)