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Pascal Chartrand

Molecular imaging and cellular dynamics of RNA

Professeur titulaire

Faculté de médecine - Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire

Roger-Gaudry, room D507

514 343-5684

p.chartrand@umontreal.ca

Secondary numbers: 514 343-5684 (Travail 1) 514 343-2210 (Télécopieur)

Media

Cérémonie Bravo à nos chercheurs - 6 mai 2015

 - © Université de Montréal

Profile

Research expertise

1) Intracellular trafficking of telomerase RNA and its role in biogenesis and regulation of its activity

Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes in eukaryotic cells by preventing their degradation and fusion. In most eukaryotes, telomerase reverse transcriptase is responsible for telomere elongation. This enzyme consists of an RNA subunit containing the template, to which protein subunits responsible for catalytic activity bind. Telomerase plays a crucial role in cell transformation since it is reactivated in the majority of cancers and allows the immortalization of cancer cells. Our laboratory particularly uses single-molecule imaging to explore: 1) the intracellular trafficking of telomerase RNA and its role in the biogenesis of this holoenzyme, as well as 2) the role of non-coding telomeric RNAs in the regulation of telomerase activity.

2) Pathogenesis of Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1)

DM1 is a rare and incurable neuromuscular genetic disease which affects 1 in 8,000 people. Over time, patients develop lung and heart complications that render them disabled and limit their life expectancy. This disease is caused by the accumulation of CTG triplet repeats in the DMPK gene, which leads to the aggregation of its mRNA as nuclear foci in muscle cells. The current hypothesis of a toxic effect of this mRNA posits that the nuclear retention of the mutant DMPK mRNA alters the function of regulatory RNA-binding proteins, which as sequestered on the mutant transcript. Our laboratory studies 1) the role of non-coding RNAs in the pathogenesis of DM1, 2) aims to identify proteins associated with RNAs containing expanded triplet repeats, and 3) develop pharmacological treatments for this disease.

3) Mechanisms of intracellular transport of mRNAs and their local translation

mRNA localization is used by different types of polarized cells to locally translate specific proteins and thus restrict their distribution to a particular region of the cytoplasm. This mechanism offers the possibility of locally and temporally regulate the expression of proteins. The transport and localization of specific mRNAs plays an important role during the development of multicellular organisms, as well as in biological processes such as synaptic transmission, cell motility and asymmetric cell division. Our laboratory uses the localization of mRNA in the bud of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism. We seek to: 1) understand the mechanisms of recognition of localized mRNAs and assembly of the localization machinery on these mRNAs, and 2) identify and characterize the factors responsible for controlling the translation of mRNAs during their transport.

Awards and recognitions

  • Chaire de Recherche FRQS (2015-2019)
  • Chercheur-boursier Senior FRSQ (2009-2013)
  • Chercheur-boursier Junior 2 FRSQ (2006-2009)
  • Chercheur-boursier Junior 1 FCAR (2001-2006)

Affiliations and responsabilities

Research affiliations

Teaching and supervision

Student supervision

Theses and dissertation supervision (Papyrus Institutional Repository)

2023

Phosphorylation of the RNA-binding protein She2 and its impact on mRNA localization in yeast

Graduate : Farajzadeh, Nastaran
Cycle : Doctoral
Grade : Ph. D.
2022

Étude de la régulation de la télomérase par imagerie en molécules uniques

Graduate : Maguemoun, Kamélia
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
2021

Imagerie moléculaire de l’ARN de la télomérase dans des cellules cancéreuses humaines

Graduate : Laprade, Hadrien
Cycle : Doctoral
Grade : Ph. D.
2019

Étude du rôle des ARN non codants du cluster Dlk1-Dio3 dans la dystrophie myotonique de type 1

Graduate : Burgoci, Vasile
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
2014

La voie de régulation de la traduction de l’ARNm ASH1 : une concertation entre Khd1, Puf6 et Loc1

Graduate : Forget, Amélie
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
2013

Exploring TERRA (TElomeric Repeat-containing RNA) Expression and Regulation During Cell Growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Graduate : Perez Romero, Carmina Angelica
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
2010

The role of GAPDH in maintaining the functional state of the DNA repair enzyme APE1

Graduate : Ayoub, Emily
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
2007

Étude du mécanisme d'autorégulation entre les facteurs de transcription E2F et le microARN miR-20a

Graduate : Sylvestre, Yannick
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.
2004

Dynamique de la traduction de l'ARNm ASHI chez la levure Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Graduate : Donato, Damiane
Cycle : Master's
Grade : M. Sc.

Projects

Research projects

2022 - 2028

Defining the repertoires and functional impacts of RNA binding proteins that undergo sequestration by toxic repeat RNA

Lead researcher : Éric Lécuyer
Co-researchers : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: IRSC/Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-(PJT) Subvention Projet
2022 - 2027

Defining the repertoires and functional impacts of RNA binding proteins that undergo sequestration by toxic repeat RNA

Co-researchers : Pascal Chartrand , Éric Lécuyer
Funding sources: IRSC/Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-(PJT) Subvention Projet
2019 - 2026

Studying telomeres maintenance by telomerase using live cell imaging

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: IRSC/Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-(PJT) Subvention Projet
2019 - 2026

Mechanisms regulating mRNA localization and localized translation

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: CRSNG/Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et génie du Canada (CRSNG)
Grant programs: PVX20965-(RGP) Programme de subvention à la découverte individuelle ou de groupe
2023 - 2025

Investigating telomerase dynamics in live cells at a single-molecule level

Lead researcher : Agnel Sfeir
Co-researchers : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: NIH/National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-Subvention de recherche
2023 - 2025

Pre-clinical testing of novel pharmacological inhibitors of toxic DMPK mRNA in a DM1 mouse model

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: Association française contre les myopathies
Grant programs:
2023 - 2025

Pre-clinical testing of novel pharmacological inhibitors of toxic DMPK mRNA in a DM1 mouse model

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: Association canadienne de la dystrophie musculaire (L')
Grant programs:
2020 - 2021

Exploring the impact of mutation in the budding yeast DNAJC21-homolog JJJ1 on telomerase biogenesis

Lead researcher : Philip A Hieter
Co-researchers : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: Genome British Columbia
Grant programs:
2020 - 2021

Supplément COVID-19 CRSNG_Mechanisms regulating mRNA localization and localized translation

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: CRSNG/Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et génie du Canada (CRSNG)
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-Supplément à l’appui des étudiants, des stagiaires postdoctoraux et du personnel de soutien à la recherche COVID-19
2017 - 2021

4th Canadian Symposium on Telomeres and Genomics Integrity

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: IRSC/Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-Subventions pour réunion, planification et dissémination
2013 - 2021

MECHANISMS REGULATING MRNA LOCALIZATION AND TRANSLATIONAL CONTROL

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: IRSC/Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada
Grant programs: PVXX5647-(MOP) Subvention de fonctionnement incluant les subventions de fonctionnement programmatiques (général)
2015 - 2020

ROLE BIOLOGIQUES ET IMPLICATIONS PATHOLOGIQUE DE LA DYNAMIQUE ET DE LA LOCALISATOIN INTRACELLULAIRE DE COMPLEE RIBONUCLEOPROTEIQUE

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: FRQS/Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRSQ)
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-Chaires de recherche FRQS
2018 - 2019

"Rare diseases: models & mechanisms" network (RDMM) / réseau Canadien "maladies rares: modèles et mécanismes" (MRMM) Exploring the impact of mutation in the budding yeast DNAJC21-homolog JJJ1 on ribosome and telomerase biogenesis

Lead researcher : Philip A Hieter
Co-researchers : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: IRSC/Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-Subvention de réseau
2012 - 2019

SINGLE CELL ANALYSIS OF TELOMERASE ACTIVITY AND REGULATION

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: IRSC/Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada
Grant programs: PVXX5647-(MOP) Subvention de fonctionnement incluant les subventions de fonctionnement programmatiques (général)
2013 - 2018

THE ROLES OF MBNL PROTEINS IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Co-researchers : Éric Lécuyer , Marlene Oeffinger
Funding sources: IRSC/Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada , Association canadienne de la dystrophie musculaire (L')
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-Subvention de fonctionnement - annonce de priorités ,
2013 - 2015

INHIBITORY COMPOUNDS OF POLYNYCLEOTIDE REPEAT-ASSOCIATED RNA-FOCI - ÉTUDE PRÉCLINIQUE DE COMPOSÉS PHARMACOLOGIQUES POUR LA TRAITEMENT DE LA DYSTROPHIE MUSCULAIRE

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: AmorChem
Grant programs:
2013 - 2015

PATHOGENESIS OF MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Co-researchers : Benoît Chabot , Jack Puymirat
Funding sources: CHUQ - Hôtel-Dieu-de Québec
Grant programs:
2013 - 2015

INHIBITORY COMPOUNDS OF POLYNYCLEOTIDE REPEAT-ASSOCIATED RNA-FOCI - ÉTUDE PRÉCLINIQUE DE COMPOSÉS PHARMACOLOGIQUES POUR LA TRAITEMENT DE LA DYSTROPHIE MUSCULAIRE

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: AmorChem
Grant programs:
2013 - 2015

ÉTUDE PRÉ-CLINIQUE DE COMPOSÉS PHARMACOLOGIQUES POUR LE TRAITEMENT DE LA DYSTROPHIE MYOTONIQUE

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: MESRST/Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche, de la Science et de la Technologie
Grant programs: PVXXXXXX-Soutien à valorisation et transfert (PSVT-v3): Soutien aux entreprises techno innovantes
2012 - 2015

STUDYING TELOMERASE ACTIVITY AND REGULATION IN SINGLE CANCER CELLS

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: IRSCC/Institut de recherche de la Société canadienne du cancer
Grant programs:
2012 - 2015

CHARACTERIZATION OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS WHICH DISRUPT NUCLEAR CUG-RICH RNA FOCI IN DM1

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: Association française contre les myopathies
Grant programs:
2008 - 2014

TELOMERASE TRAFFICKING AND MAINTENANCE OF GENOME INTEGRITY

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Funding sources: IRSC/Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada
Grant programs: PVXX5647-(MOP) Subvention de fonctionnement incluant les subventions de fonctionnement programmatiques (général)
2012 - 2013

PATHOGENESIS OF MYOTONIC DYSTROPHY

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
Co-researchers : Benoît Chabot , Jack Puymirat
Funding sources: Association française contre les myopathies
Grant programs:
2009 - 2012

LA LEVURE COMME SYSTEME MODELE POUR ETUDIER LA LOCALISATION ET LA REGULATION TRADUCTIONNELLE DES ARNM

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
2008 - 2012

TELOMERASE TRAFFICKING AND MAINTENANCE OF GENOME INTEGRITY

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand
2010

HIGH PERFORMANCE IMAGING AND IMAGE ANALYSIS UNIT

Lead researcher : Pascal Chartrand

Outreach

Publications and presentations

Publications

Disciplines

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Areas of expertise

  • Nucleic Acids
  • Cell
  • Chromosome (Living Organisms)
  • Enzymes and Proteins
  • Gene (Living Organisms)
  • Macromolecules
  • Biological and Biochemical Mechanisms
  • Telomeres
  • Neuromuscular Diseases