Jacques Drouin, PhD

12 Feb 2020

Address

Research interests

  • Pituitary dévelopment and function
  • Epigenetics
  • Hormone action

The pituitary is the master gland of the endocrine system and it controls the function of the gonads. We have been interested for a long time in the mechanisms controlling organogenesis, cell differentiation and function of the pituitary, as well as their impact on target organs particularly the gonads and adrenals. We discovered the transcription factor Pitx1 and shown its role in organogenesis of the pituitary as well as in transcription of genes encoding pituitary hormones, particularly POMC and the gonadotropins. Our discovery of the transcription factor Tpit led us to show its importance in differentiation of pituitary POMC cells as well as its antagonistic role in differentiation of gonadotrope cells. The particular relation between POMC and gonadotrope cells does not limit itself to their origin from a common precursor, but also privileged interactions within homotypic and interdependent cellular networks. These crosstalks impact the activity of different regulatory axes between the pituitary and peripheral endocrine tissues, and in this case, have an impact on the function of the gonadotrope axis.

More recently, we noticed the expression of an isoform of the transcription factor Tpit in ovaries and the structure of the protein encoded by this isoform led to the hypothesis that it could contribute to oocyte maturation. These observations suggest a putatively important role in reproductive performance. We currently study this hypothesis. As in our previous work, we use the spectrum of genetic, epigenetic and classical molecular biology approaches in the investigation of this hypothesis.

Members of the laboratory

Arthur Gouthier, BSc
MSc Student
arthur.gouthier@ircm.qc.ca

Justine Gagnon, BSc
MSc Student
Justine.Gagnon@ircm.qc.ca

Juliette Harris, MSc
PhD Student
juliette.harris@ircm.qc.ca

Virginie Bascunana, MSc
PhD Student
virginie.bascunana@ircm.qc.ca

Ryhem Gam, MSc
PhD Student
ryhem.gam@ircm.qc.ca

Audrey Pelletier, MSc
PhD Student
audrey.pelletier@ircm.qc.ca

Kevin Sochodolsk, MSc
PhD Student
kevin.sochodolsky@ircm.qc.ca

Amandine Bemmo
Research Assistant – Bioinformatics
amandine.bemmo@ircm.qc.ca

Yves Gauthier
Research Assistant
yves.gauthier@ircm.qc.ca

Konstantin Khetchoumian, PhD
Research Associate
khetchk@ircm.qc.ca

Aurélio Balsalobre, PhD
Research Associate
aurelio.balsalobre@ircm.qc.ca

Publications

SEE SCOPUS

André Tremblay, PhD

4 Jun 2019

Address

Research interests

  • Cell biology of nuclear receptors
  • Hormonal response of reproductive tissues
  • Transcriptional mechanisms in breast and ovarian tumorigenesis

Nuclear receptors are transcription factors that control gene expression in response to hormonal stimulation. In the laboratory, we study in particular the  ERα and ERβ estrogen receptors that are responsible for the hormonal response of reproductive tissues, the RAR receptors that respond to vitamin A derivatives, and those in the PPAR family (α, β, and γ) which are essential regulators of energy metabolism.

Our studies allow to characterize the hormonal response with that of growth factors and cytokines on the regulation of target genes under the control of nuclear receptors. These studies will allow a better understanding of the role of cellular effectors in gynecological pathology and to identify new therapeutic targets.

Members of the laboratory

Samira Benhadjeba, MSc
PhD student
samira.benhadjeba@umontreal.ca

Véronique Caron, MSc
Research assistant
veronique.caron@umontreal.ca

Lydia Edjekouane, MSc
PhD student
lydia.edjekouane@umontreal.ca

Loïze Maréchal, MSc
PhD student
loize.marechal@umontreal.ca

Maximilien Laviolette, BSc
MSc student
max_laviolette@msn.com

Mélissa Bisson, BSc
MSc student
melissa.bisson@umontreal.ca

Jonathan Gagnon, MSc
PhD student
jonathan.gagnon.6@umontreal.ca

Baly Sow, BSc
MSc student
baly.sow@umontreal.ca 

Publications

SEE SCOPUS

Jean-Claude Labbé, PhD

8 Jan 2019

Address

Research interests

  • Germ cell division
  • Organization and function of the germinal syncytium
  • Cell polarity and mitosis

My research program aims to understand the fundamental mechanisms that govern cell division during animal development. We specifically focus on studying the different properties of germline stem cells in a classic model organism: the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

One of these properties is stem cell self-renewal. Like all types of stem cells, C. elegans germline stem cells undergo self-renewal through contact with their niche, a single cell named DTC. We seek to understand how these germline stem cells polarize and orient their division axis to maintain contact with the niche, and thus ensure a balance between self-renewal and differentiation.

Another property of germline stem cells studied in my group is their organization as a syncytium, a conserved cellular architecture in which multiple cell nuclei share a common cytoplasm. We seek to understand the molecular mechanisms that control syncytial architecture formation, expansion and maintenance, in order to decipher the fundamental principles that govern this type of tissue organization.

As most C. elegans genes controlling cell division have a homolog in mammals, including humans, our findings using the nematode may guide our understanding of gene function in several diseases, including cancer.

Members of the laboratory

Mohamed Réda Zellag, MSc
PhD student
mohamed.reda.zellag@umontreal.ca

Léa Lacroix, MSc
PhD student
lea.lacroix@umontreal.ca

Kimia Zarnani, MSc
PhD student
kimia.zarnani@umontreal.ca

Eugénie Goupil, PhD
Research councillor
eugenie.goupil@umontreal.ca

Vincent Poupart, MSc
Research agent
vincent.poupart@umontreal.ca

Publications

Voir Scopus

William Pastor, PhD

22 Nov 2018

Address

Research interests

  • Placental development
  • Epigenetics
  • Gene regulation

1. Placentation

In the first days of human life, distinct cells called trophoblasts are specified and go on to form most of the placenta. Given the critical importance of the placenta for fetal and maternal health, our lab will study transcriptional control of trophoblast specification and early placental development.

2. Heterochromatin establishment

Dramatic epigenetic changes occur in early human development. Most notably, there is a global increase in DNA methylation, an epigenetic mark critical for silencing genes and transposons. The methylation pattern established in early development is largely conserved through the rest of life. We will use stem cell based models to determine how DNA methyltransferases are regulated and how DNA methylation is patterned.

Members of the laboratory

Ishtiaque Hossein, MSc 
PhD student
ishtiaque.hossain@mail.mcgill.ca

Jessica Cinkornpumin, MSc
PhD student
jessica.cinkornpumin@mail.mcgill.ca

Deepak Saini, MSc
PhD student
deepak.saini@mail.mcgill.ca

Nathalia Azevedo Portilho, PhD
Postdoc
nathalia.azevedoportilho@mail.mcgill.ca

Jacinthe Sirois, MSc
Research assistant
jacinthe.sirois@mcgill.ca

Publications

Voir Google Scholar

Nicolas Gévry, PhD

15 Aug 2018

Address

Research interests

  • Hormone-dependent cancers and nuclear receptors
  • Regulation of gene expression in the ovaries
  • Systems Biology, Genomics and Bioinformatics

Nuclear receptors represent one of the largest families of transcription factors, including 48 identified members in the human genome. Transcriptional activation by most nuclear receptors is controlled by the binding of lipophilic molecules, such as hormones or metabolites including, for example, fatty acids and oxysterols. However, some receptors do not have a known ligand and are thus classified as orphan nuclear receptors. Our knowledge of the regulation of gene expression by nuclear receptors has expanded in recent years, mainly due to the observation that not only is the interaction of the receptor with DNA important in the transcriptional response, but also that coactivators, corepressors and the chromatin environment are crucial in the transmission of hormonal signals to the transcriptional machinery. Given the importance of nuclear receptors in endocrinology for their role in the development of specific diseases, a detailed understanding of their function will have an impact not only on human and animal biology, but also on the development of new drugs for the treatment of endocrine diseases such as breast and prostate cancers, obesity and infertility.
The general projects of the laboratory are:

  • To define the role of the LRH-1 nuclear receptor in the implementation of a gene expression program specific to triple negative breast cancer.
  • To determine the role of the NR5A2 nuclear receptor in prostate cancer and to evaluate its potential as a therapeutic target.
  • To explore the molecular determinants of NR5A1 and NR5A2 nuclear receptors in the ovary and fertility.
  • To define the molecular functions of the estrogen receptor in adipose tissue metabolism and its close link with the reproductive system

The approaches used by the laboratory to carry out these different projects are at the cutting edge of molecular and cellular biology. In addition, we make us of our expertise in systems biology, genomics and bioinformatics to respond to different biological questions in an original way.

Members of the laboratory

Fanny Morin, BSc
MSc student
fanny.morin2@usherbrooke.ca

Maude Albert St-Laurent, BSc
MSc student
maude.albert-st-laurent@usherbrooke.ca

Florence Gagnon, MSc 
PhD student
florence.gagnon2@usherbrooke.ca

Erfan Sharifi, MSc
PhD student
erfan.sharifi@usherbrooke.ca

Pooneh Chokhachi Baradaran, MSc
PhD student
pooneh.chokhachi.baradaran@usherbrooke.ca

Marine Daures, PhD
Postdoc
marine.daures@usherbrooke.ca

Marie-Ève Poisson, PhD
Lab and animal health technician
mylene.brunelle@usherbrooke.ca

Mylène Brunelle, PhD
Research assistant
mylene.brunelle@usherbrooke.ca

Stéphanie Bianco, PhD
Research assistant
stephanie.bianco@usherbrooke.ca

Publications

Voir Scopus

Kalidou Ndiaye, PhD

26 Jun 2018

Address

Research interests

  • Ovarian function
  • Reproductive immunolgy
  • Follicular development

The primary field of research in the lab is directed toward the cellular and molecular mechanisms in reproduction with a focus on follicular development in bovine species. A secondary focus is on the reproductive immunology and the effects of immune cells on the ovarian function. We are approaching these projects by using a host of molecular technologies including yeast two-hybrid screening, RNA interference, plasmid-mediated protein over-expression and promoter-reporter assays to characterize the expression and study the functions of target genes in ovarian follicles and immune cells.

These approaches allow us to study the expression and function of genes that could influence follicular development and the quality of oocyte and impact bovine fertility. Our previous studies have demonstrated the induction of specific genes expression in the ovarian follicle during ovulation, some of which are involved in inflammatory processes. Other studies from our laboratory have also shown that some genes are present in growing dominant follicles and are repressed by the luteinizing hormone (LH). Our ongoing projects aim to elucidate the functions and mechanisms of action of some of these genes in granulosa cells of ovarian follicles using pharmacological inhibitors, the CRISPR-Cas9 technology as well as signal transduction analyses. We also study the mode of action of proteins encoded by these genes by defining their partners using the yeast two-hybrid approach and performing in vitro analyses.

Members of the laboratory

Marianne Descarreaux
MSc student
Marianne.descarreaux@umontreal.ca

Daniela Naranjo
MSc student
dcng1994@gmail.com

Maryam Pashaei
MSc student
maryam.pashaei@umontreal.ca

Amir Zareifard
MSc student
Amir.zareifard@umontreal.ca

Aly Warma, MSc
PhD student
Aly.warma@umontreal.ca

Publications

See Scopus

Daniel Dufort, PhD

13 Feb 2018

Address

  • 514 934-1934 Ext. 34743
  • daniel.dufort@mcgill.ca
  • Institut de recherche du Centre universitaire de santé McGill
    1001 boul Décarie
    Site Glen Pavilion E / Block E
    CHHD EM03230
    Montréal, QC H4A 3J1
    Canada

Research interests

  • Elucidating the role of the Nodal signaling pathway in proper timing of parturition and how its deregulation leads to preterm birth in mice and humans
  • Deciphering the signals involved in maternal-fetal crosstalk
  • Determining how hormones and growth factors render the uterus receptive for embryo implantation

The research interests of my lab are in elucidating the embryo-uterine communication during pregnancy. We are using, molecular, embryological and well as genetic approaches to identify the signaling pathways and their roles in the implantation process, placental development and the initiation of parturition. Our current focus is elucidating the role of the Wnt and Nodal signaling pathways. Furthermore, we are also interested in elucidating the role of maternal signals in proper development and function of the placenta which are often associated with complications during pregnancy such as Preeclampsia and Preterm Birth.

Members of the laboratory

Rose Corneli
MSc student
rose-andrea.corneli@mail.mcgill.ca

Mansuba Rana, BSc
Master student
Mansuba.Rana@mail.mcgill.ca

Sarah Yull, BSc
Master student
Sarah.yull@mail.mcgill.ca

Parinaz Kazemi, PhD
Postdoc
parinaz.kazemi@mail.mcgill.ca

Shiva Shafiei, MSc
Postdoc
Shiva.shafiei@mail.mcgill.ca

Laurie Pinel, PhD
Postdoc
laurie.pinel@mail.mcgill.ca

Publications

SEE SCOPUS

Benoit Barbeau, PhD

23 Dec 2017

Address

  • 514 987-3000 poste 4576
  • Barbeau.benoit@uqam.ca
  • Université du Québec à Montréal
    Département des sciences biologiques, SB-3335
    2080, St-Urbain
    Montréal, Qc H2X 3X8
    Télécopieur : 514 987-4647

Research interests

  • Human endogenous retrovirus (hERV) envelope proteins and their role in in trophoblast fusion
  • Placental exosomes and the role of hERV proteins in their internalisation by target cells
  • Implication of hERV Env protein in immunosuppression

Our research interests are focussed on human exogenous retroviruses, such as HIV-1 and HTLV viruses and human endogenous retroviruses (hERV) in relation to their implication in the formation of the human placenta. We are currently conducting a series of studies aimed at the understanding of their role in placental functions and we are particularly concentrating our efforts on their association to obstetrical disorders, such as preeclampsia. Our efforts are first being centered on the regulation of these genes and of their mouse equivalent in placental cells, though the study of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. Secondly, our research team conducts a series of studies on placenta-derived exosomes. We have shown that, in pregnant women, these circulating microvesicles harboured Syncytin-1 and Syncytin-2, two hERV-derived proteins, on their surface. Alike for ancestral viruses, these proteins seem to provide a tropism to placental exosomes, and are thereby targeting their internalization by specific cell types expressing appropriate receptors on their surface. In addition, our results have suggested that Syncytin-2 levels are lower in serum-derived exosomes from pre-eclamptic women than in exosomes from normal pregnant women. These latter results argue for the potential future development of an early diagnostic tool for preeclampsia predisposition through the detection of Syncytin-2 in serum exosomes. Further experiments are currently aimed at looking at how expression of different hERV envelope proteins in placental cells might equally influence exosome targeting and determining how extensive does hERV envelope proteins contribute to targeting a wide variety of cell types.  In this context, the impact of hERV envelope-containing exosomes on differentiation states of villous/extravillous cytotrophoblasts and human endothelial cells and the activation state of immune cell populations, such as CD4+ and Cd8+ T cells, Treg, NK and DC cells become of high interest toward pregnancy and obstetric disorders linked to the placenta. The impact of other cellular factors, such as galectin-1 and tetherin on exosomes binding and release are also being closely examined.

Members of the laboratory

Clément Caté, MSc
PhD student
clementcate@gmail.com

Zhenlong Liu, MSc
PhD student
zhenlong714@gmail.com

Antoine Beaulieu
PhD student
beaulieu.antoine@courrier.uqam.ca

Caroline Toudic, MSc
PhD student
caroline.toudic22@gmail.com

Yong Xiao
Research associate
yxiao37@yahoo.ca

Publications

SEE SCOPUS
Alexandre Boyer

Alexandre Boyer, PhD

13 Dec 2017

Address

Research interests

  • Development, physiology and homeostasia of gonads and endocrine tissue
  • Transgenesis and functional genomics
  • Signaling pathways

My laboratory is interested in the mechanisms of action and the roles played by various signaling pathways in the development, maintenance of tissue homeostasis and function of endocrine tissues such as the testis and the adrenal cortex.

In recent years our attention has focused on the role of the Hippo signaling pathway; an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway playing an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Using functional genomics approaches (cell cultures and transgenic mouse models), we have recently demonstrated that this signaling pathway plays an essential role in the development of the gonads and adrenal glands. Currently, we are continuing our studies on this signaling pathway in order to understand its mechanism of action in mature Sertoli cells and thus better understand how the latter maintain a structural, nutritional and immunoprotective environment necessary for the maturation of germ cells.

Members of the laboratory

Laurence Banville
MSc/DMV student
laurence.banville@umontreal.ca

Laureline Charrier
PhD student
laureline.charrier@umontreal.ca

Natalia Jakuc
PhD student (cosupervision)
natalia.jakuc@umontreal.ca

Florine Grudet
PhD student (cosupervision)
florine.grudet@umontreal.ca

Publications

SEE SCOPUS

Bruce D. Murphy, PhD

23 Nov 2017

Address

Research interests

  • NR5A2 orphan receptor family
  • Ovulation and luteal function
  • Reactivation of the embryo at the termination of the diapause

My laboratory has focused on the role of orphan nuclear receptors of the NR5A family in regulation of reproductive events.  We have shown that NR5A2, aka liver receptor homolog-1, is essential for the processes of ovulation and luteal function. Its expression in the uterus is likewise necessary for establishment of gestation.  NR5A1, aka steroidogenic factor-1, is necessary for maturation of ovarian follicles.  Our current studies are aimed at exploring the multiple mechanisms by which NR5A1 and NR5A2 regulate ovarian events, including proliferation, differentiation and cytoskeletal remodeling. Our investigations are characterized by phenotypic analysis of targeted mutations in mice combined with global approaches to determining the widespread molecular changes that occur associated with depletion of the NR5A genes.

We have had a long-standing interest in the phenomenon of embryonic diapause, an evolutionary strategy whereby there is a predictable arrest in the development of the blastocyst.  This arrest results in the uncoupling of mating and parturition and allows for the birth of offspring when survival is optimal. We have shown that embryos enter diapause in carnivore and rodent species when the uterine signals are insufficient to allow continued development.  A class of compounds known as polyamines are key players in this mechanism, as a paucity of polyamines is associated with developmental arrest.  Our current studies focus on the events that take place in the embryo that interrupt embryogenesis and those which characterize the reactivation of the embryo at the termination of diapause.

Members of the laboratory

Olivia Smith, MSc
PhD student
olivia.e.smith@gmail.com

Fanny Morin, BSc
MSc student
fanny.morin@umontreal.ca

Camilla H.K. Hughes, PhD
Postdoc
camilla.hughes@umontreal.ca

Vickie Roussel
Laboratory technician
vickie.roussel@umontreal.ca

Publications

See Scopus
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