Over the past several years RNA-based immunity against genomic invaders has been discovered in all branches of life ranging from the CRISPR-Cas systems in bacteria to piRNAs in animals. piRNAs, in Drosophila germline cells are encoded by specific loci called piRNA clusters. These loci establish and maintain memory of “nonself ” by generating small guides to induce an adaptive defense against genomic parasites like transposable elements (TEs). At the heart of this defense mechanism resides a piRNA induced silencing complex (piRISC) which consists of a piRNA and its associated Argonaute protein partner. Within piRISC, the small RNA determines target specificity by base pairing, while its Argonaute partner governs effector activity. The mRNA can be either cleaved in the cytoplasm (PTGS) or bound in the nucleus leading to TGS.
Biogenesis and function of the piRNAs in Drosophila germline cells
In the lab, we are dissecting the biogenesis and the role of piRISC in Drosophila. We have demonstrated that the Argonaute Piwi protein is required during Drosophila embryonic development for the activation of piRNA clusters via the deposition of H3K9me3 repressive marks. Once established in the embryo, this epigenetic mark will be maintained in a Piwi-independent manner during the whole ovarian development.
For our studies we combine fly genetics, proteomics and deep sequencing approaches (small RNA-seq, RNA-seq, ChIP-seq), using molecular and cell biology tools (CRISPR/dCas9).
Bruno Mugat, Simon Nicot, Carolina Varela-Chavez, Christophe Jourdan, Kaoru Sato, Eugenia Basyuk, François Juge, Mikiko C. Siomi, Alain Pélisson & Séverine Chambeyron
Barckmann B, El-Barouk M, Pélisson A, Mugat B, Li B, Franckhauser C, Fiston Lavier AS, Mirouze M, Fablet M, Chambeyron S
Lopez-Maestre H, Carnelossi EA, Lacroix V, Burlet N, Mugat B, Chambeyron S, Carareto CM, Vieira C
Akkouche, A., Mugat, B., Barckmann, B., Varela-Chavez, C., Li, B., Raffel, R., Pelisson, A., Chambeyron, S.
Romero-Soriano V, Modolo L, Lopez-Maestre H, Mugat B, Pessia E, Chambeyron S, Vieira C, Garcia Guerreiro MP
Mugat B, Akkouche A, Serrano V, Armenise C, Li B, Brun C, Fulga TA, Van Vactor D, Pélisson A, Chambeyron S
Grentzinger T, Chambeyron S.
Chambeyron, S., Seitz, H.
Grentzinger T, Armenise C, Pelisson A, Brun C, Mugat B, Chambeyron S.
Akkouche A, Grentzinger T, Fablet M, Armenise C, Burlet N, Braman V, Chambeyron S. §, Vieira C§ (co-dernier auteur)
Brasset E, Chambeyron S.
Grentzinger T, Armenise C, Pelisson A, Brun C, Mugat B, Chambeyron S
Grentzinger T, Armenise C, Brun C, Mugat B, Serrano V, Pelisson A, Chambeyron S.
Barckmann,B., Pierson,S., Dufourt, J., Papin, C., Armenise, C., Port, F., Grentzinger, T., Chambeyron, S., Baronian, G., Desvignes, JP., Curk, T., Simonelig, M.
2015 - Cell Rep
, 12(7):1205-1216 26257181 
Service porteur :
mRNA Regulation and Development
Research Director working on “Non-coding RNA, epigenetics and genome stability”
Scientific Focus Areas: piRNA, chromatin, epigenetics, transposable elements, bio-informatics
Education
2011 - HDR, University of Montpellier I (France)
2002 - Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Genetics - University of Montpellier II (France)
1998 - Master II - University of Montpellier I, (France)
Research Experience
2010-present - Group Leader (DR2) of Non-coding RNA, epigenetics and genome stability at IGH CNRS-UMR9002 (Montpellier, France).
2005-2009 - Project Leader (CR2) at IGH CNRS (Montpellier, France).
2002-2005 - Post-doctoral research associate at the MRC (Edinburgh, UK) in Prof. W. Bickmore lab.
1998-2002 - PhD studentship at IGH CNRS (Montpellier, France) in Dr. A. Bucheton lab.
Training activities
Addition Scientific Activities
2017 - Co-organizer of a symposium for the 20 years of the IGH
2015 - Co-organizer International Congres of Transposable Elements, Saint Malo, France
2015 - Co-organizer 29th French Drosophila Conference - Presqu’île du Ponant, France
2013 - Co-organizer of National Congres of Transposable Element”, Montpellier, France
Fellowships and awards
2016-present - Prime d’Excellence Scientifique, CNRS.
Current Grants:
2016-2017 - Partenariats Hubert Curien (PHC) PROCOPE 2017: Echange Allemagne – France.
2015-2017 - Fondation Cancer (ARC): Subvention.
2014-2017 - Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM): Programme Epigénétique « DEP20131128518 »
Previous Grants:
2013-2016 - Fondation ARC: Post-doctoral fellowship
2010-2014 - National Research Agency (ANR)
2010-2012 - Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale (FRM): Fellowship for a Bioinformatician
2009-2011 - Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer (ARC): Subvention fixe
2009-2012 - Sequencing project by the GIS IBiSA Génoscope, Paris
