Nuclear receptors are part of a multigenic family of hormone-activated transcription factors that regulate target gene expression. Of interest is also their inherent ability of undergoing post-translational modifications in response to cellular kinase pathways.

1. The estrogen receptors ERα and ERβ mediate hormone responsiveness of reproductive and peripheral tissues, and are involved in diverse aspects of human reproduction, embryonic development, and physiology. Our interest relates to the role of upstream cellular signals that regulate ER functions.
2. The PPARs (α, β, and g) are nuclear receptors involved in lipid homeostasis and energy metabolism. The regulation of lipogenic/thermogenic target gene expression, the role of other nuclear receptors, such as LXR and FXR, and the mitochondrial activity and biogenesis are among the various aspects studied in the lab.

• Sanchez, M., Sauvé, K., Picard, N., Tremblay, A. (2010) Challenging estrogen receptor b with phosphorylation. Trends Endo Met (in press)
• Demers, A., Caron, V., Rodrigue-Way, A., Wahli, W., Ong, H., Tremblay, A. (2009) A Concerted Kinase Interplay Identifies PPARg as a Molecular Target of Ghrelin Signaling in Macrophages. PLoS ONE 4(11): e7728.
• Sauvé, K., Lepage, J., Sanchez, M., Heveker, N., Tremblay, A. (2009) Positive feedback activation of estrogen receptors by the SDF1-CXCR4 pathway. Cancer Research 69: 5793-5800.
• Picard, N., Charbonneau, C., Sanchez, M., Licznar, A., Busson, M., Lazennec, G., Tremblay, A. (2008) Phosphorylation of AF-1 regulates proteasome-dependent nuclear mobility and E6-AP ubiquitin ligase recruitment to the estrogen receptor β. Molecular Endocrinology 22: 317-330.
• Demers, A., Rodrigue-Way, A., Tremblay, A. (2008). Hexarelin signaling to PPARgamma in metabolic disease. Special Issue on Cardiovascular Physiology and Disease. PPAR Research Jan. 2008:1-9.
• Rodrigue-Way, A., Demers, A., Ong, H., Tremblay, A. (2007) A Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide Promotes Mitochondrial Biogenesis And A Fat Burning-like Phenotype Through Scavenger Receptor CD36 in White Adipocytes.  Endocrinology. 148:1009-1018.
• Sanchez, M., Sauvé, K., Picard, N., Tremblay, A. (2007) Transcriptional repression of the estrogen receptor β by the PI3K/Akt pathway involves a phosphorylation-dependent release of CBP. J. Biol. Chem. 282:4830-4840.
• Avallone, R., Demers, A., Rodrigue-Way, A., Anghel, S., Wahli, W., Marleau, S., Ong, H., Tremblay, A. (2006) A Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide that Binds Scavenger Receptor CD36 and Ghrelin Receptor Upregulates ABC Sterol Transporters and Cholesterol Efflux in Macrophages Through a PPARg-dependent Pathway. Molecular Endocrinology, 20(12):3165-3178.