Our research aims to characterize ribonucleoprotein complexes involved in mRNA transport and define their role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. More specifically, we characterize distinct mechanisms of mRNA transport and define the physiological roles of these transports for different cellular processes such as synaptic plasticity and cell cycle progression.

1. they organize the macromolecular transport complex;
2. they act as translational repressors that prevent translation of mRNA cargos until transport is achieved;
3. they regulate the activation of translation of the protein following transport and degradation of mRNAs.

1. Molecular characterization of ribonucleoprotein complexes involved in mRNA transport, localization and local translation;
2. Functional characterization of proteins involved in mRNA transport, localization and local translation;
3. Physiological importance of mRNA transport and local translation on synaptic plasticity and cell cycle progression.

1. Define, at the molecular level, different types of mRNA transport in dendrites and axons of neurons;
2. Link different types of mRNA transport to distinct phenomena involved in synaptic plasticity;
3. Define the physiological role of Staufen in synaptic plasticity;
4. Define the role of Staufen in the regulation of post-transcriptionnal gene expression;
5. Define the role of Staufen in neurons and in dividing cells.

Dr DesGroseillers est professeur titulaire au Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire de l’Université de Montréal. Il a fait ses études de doctorat à I’IRCM en virologie moléculaire à l’Université de Montréal et a poursuivi ses études postdoctorales à l’Université Stanford en neurobiologie moléculaire. Il est responsable, depuis plusieurs années, des programmes d’études supérieures au Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire. Les activités de recherche de son laboratoire portent sur les mécanismes moléculaires de la prolifération cellulaire.

Zhang, X., Trepanier, V., Beaujois, R., Viranaicken, W., Drobetsky, E., and DesGroseillers, L. (2016) Down-regulation of Staufen2 expression in response to DNA damages facilitates apoptosis. Nucl. Acid Res. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkw057

Boulay, K., Ghram, M., Viranaicken, W., Trépanier, V., Mollet, S., Fréchina, C., and DesGroseillers, L. (2014) Cell cycle-dependent regulation of the RNA-binding protein Staufen1. Nucl. Acid Res 42, 7867-7883.

Ravel-Chapuis, A., Bélanger, B., Yadava, R.S., Mahadevan, M.S., DesGroseillers, L., Côté, J., and Jasmin, B.J. (2012) The RNA-binding protein Staufen1 is increased in DM1 skeletal muscle and promotes alternative pre-mRNA splicing. J. Cell Biol. 196, 699-712

Lebeau, G., Miller, L.C., Tartas, M., McAdam, R., Laplante, I., Badeaux, F., DesGroseillers, L., Sossin, W.S., and Lacaille, J.-C. (2011) Staufen 2 regulates mGluR long-term depression and Map1b mRNA distribution in hippocampal pyramidal cells. Learning and Memory 18, 314-326.

Bidinosti, M., Ran, I., Sanchez-Carbente, M.R., Martineau, Y., Gingras, A.-C., Gkogkas, C., Raught, B., Bramham, C., Sossin, W.A., Costa-Mattioli, M., DesGroseillers, L., Lacaille, J.C., and Sonenberg, N. (2010) Postnatal deamidation of 4E-BP2 in brain enhances its association with Raptor and alters kinetics of excitatory synaptic transmission. Mol Cell. 37, 797-808.

Lebeau, G., Maher-Laporte, M., Topolnik, L., Laurent, C.E., Sossin, W.S., DesGroseillers L., and Lacaille, J.-C. (2008). Staufen1 regulation of protein synthesis-dependent long-term potentiation and synaptic function in hippocampal pyramidal cells. Mol. Cell. Biol. 28, 2896-2907.

Kim, Y.K., Furic, L., Parisien, M., Major, F., DesGroseillers, L., and Maquat, L.E. (2007). Staufen1 Regulates Diverse Classes of Mammalian Transcripts. EMBO J 26, 2670-2681.

Elvira, G., Wasiak, S., Blandford, V., Tong, X.K., Serrano, A., Fan, X., Sanchez-Carbente, M.R., Servant, F., Bell, A.W., Boismenu, D., Lacaille, J.-C., McPherson, P.S., DesGroseillers, L. and Sossin, W.S. (2006). Characterization of an RNA granule from developing brain. Mol. Cell. Proteomics 5, 635-651.

Kim, Y.K., Furic, L., DesGroseillers, L., and Maquat, L.E. (2005). Mammalian Staufen1 Recruits Upf1 to Specific mRNA 3’UTRs so as to Elicit mRNA Decay. Cell 120, 195-208.