Epithelial tissues exhibit a remarkable dual property of robustness and plasticity. This relies on unique mechanical properties of the cell cortex and adhesive interactions between cells. The speaker and his group seek to understand the fundamental molecular mechanisms responsible for this property. The speaker develops a range of approaches, from the genetic and pharmacological perturbations of molecular components, the quantitative imaging of proteins using a variety of photonic methods, probing of the physical properties of cells within intact tissues, and computational modeling of morphogenesis at different scales (molecular to tissue scales). The speaker will present his recent progress in understanding the dynamics of actomyosin contractile systems in morphogenesis of Drosophila epithelia in the lecture. He will also report recent findings delineating a novel G protein–coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathway responsible for the spatial regulation of cortical tension by the Rho1 pathway.
About the speaker
Dr Thomas Lecuit obtained his BSc from Paris University in 1994 and his PhD at University of Paris 6 in 1998. He joined the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in 2001 as a Research Associate and he is currently the Research Director in CNRS.
Dr Lecuit’s research interests in the cell biological basis of cellular organisation and polarity. He focuses on epithelial cells present in most embryonic tissues and in developing organs. In addition, he explores the mechanisms of tissue architecture and morphogenesis, both of which depend on the precise temporal and spatial control of cell polarity.
Dr Lecuit received numerous awards including the Early Career Award by European Life Science Organization in 2007, the Prix Antoine Lacassagne by Collège de France in 2009 and the Grand Prix Victor Noury by the French Academy of Sciences in 2011. He was also an elected member of the French Academy of Sciences and Academia Europaea in 2014.
For attendees’ attention
The lecture is free and open to all. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.
