We have a transdisciplinary approach to study the interplay between the organizational dynamics of the molecular components of glutamatergic synapses and synaptic transmission. Our projects build on our recent findings that:

• Trafficking of neuronal molecules such as glutamate receptors is highly dynamic,
• Regulations of protein-protein interactions play key roles in the control of this trafficking at different steps, including lateral diffusion, endo and exocytosis,
• Modulation of glutamate receptor trafficking has a profound impact on synaptic transmission, including on both short and long term post-synaptic plasticity.
• Malfunction of glutamate receptor stabilization and trafficking could be the primary cause for a variety of brain diseases having roots in synapse dysfunction.

By combining the expertise of chemists, biochemists, cell biologists, biophysicists and neurophysiologists, we develop 4 main research axes:

• Dynamics and physical-chemistry of the macro-molecular complexes of the synapse,
• Nano-scale organization and dynamics of synaptic proteins and membrane trafficking,
• Impact of the dynamic of synapse organization on synaptic physiology.
• Mechanism of synapse and brain dysfunction in neurodevelopmental diseases such as autism spectrum disorder and mental retardation.

Results obtained in these four axes will be constantly integrated to provide a global view of glutamatergic synapse physiology and pathology, from nano-scale interactions to function up to higher brain functions such as memory formation and retrieval.