Mechanisms of Adaptive Processes in brain circuits (MAP)

The brain's ability to constantly adapt its organization to ever-changing stimuli is termed "plasticity" and is a prominent feature of learning and memory in adults, as well as the assembly of neuronal circuits during critical developmental periods. Connections that convey relevant information and are the most active become stronger and stabilize, while less active ones weaken and eventually get eliminated, optimizing the storage and processing of information in the brain. Our research aims to examine the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these adaptive processes. We employ a multidisciplinary approach, including single-cell manipulation, electrophysiology, optogenetics, single-cell RNA sequencing, and high-resolution imaging, to better understand (1) how neuronal activity contributes to the molecular and functional diversification of glutamatergic synapses, (2) how synaptic plasticity shapes gene expression in neurons to support long-term synaptic changes, and (3) how astrocyte-neuron communication controls the development and plasticity of synaptic circuits.

Selected publications

High-affinity detection of biotinylated endogenous neuroligin-1 at excitatory and inhibitory synapses using a tagged knock-in mouse
Charles Ducrot, Adèle Drouet, Béatrice Tessier, Chloé Desquines, Tiffany Cloâtre, Rania-Cérine Mazouzi, Florian Levet, Alexandre Favereaux, Mathieu Letellier, Olivier Thoumine
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.. 2025-05-27
10.1073/pnas.2411669122

The correct connectivity of the DG-CA3 circuits involved in declarative memory processes depends on Vangl2-dependent planar cell polarity signaling
Noémie Depret, Marie Gleizes, Maïté Marie Moreau, Sonia Poirault-Chassac, Anne Quiedeville, Steve Dos Santos Carvalho, Vasika Venugopal, Alice Shaam Al Abed, Jérôme Ezan, Gael Barthet, Christophe Mulle, Aline Desmedt, Aline Marighetto, Claudia Racca, Mireille Montcouquiol, Nathalie Sans
Progress in Neurobiology. 2025-03-01
10.1016/j.pneurobio.2025.102728

Time-restricted feeding prevents memory impairments induced by obesogenic diet consumption, via hippocampal thyroid hormone signaling
Jean-Christophe Helbling, Rachel Ginieis, Pierre Mortessagne, Mariano Ruiz-Gayo, Ioannis Bakoyiannis, Eva-Gunnel Ducourneau, Dominique Ciocca, Illona-Marie Bouleté, Alexandre Favereaux, Aurélia Ces, Enrica Montalban, Lucile Capuron, Freddy Jeanneteau, Guillaume Ferreira, Etienne Challet, Marie-Pierre Moisan
Molecular Metabolism. 2024-12-01
10.1016/j.molmet.2024.102061

LRRTM2 controls presynapse nano-organization and AMPA receptor sub-positioning through Neurexin-binding interface
Konstantina Liouta, Malgorzata Lubas, Vasika Venugopal, Julia Chabbert, Caroline Jeannière, Candice Diaz, Matthieu Munier, Béatrice Tessier, Stéphane Claverol, Alexandre Favereaux, Matthieu Sainlos, Joris de Wit, Mathieu Letellier, Olivier Thoumine, Ingrid Chamma
Nat Commun. 2024-10-11
10.1038/s41467-024-53090-y