Crédit: Camille

TE r Bio : Transgenerational Epigenetics & small RNA biology

Our team studies the Biology of RNAs, in particular the small RNAs involved in the regulation of gene expression and Transposable Elements (TE). We are also interested in RNAs post-transcriptional modifications that play a fundamental role in RNA biogenesis and fate.

In metazoans, three types of small RNAs have been described, whose specificity differs according to the Argonaute protein with which they interact: microRNA (miRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA) and PIWI interacting RNAs (piRNA).

TEs that are present in all genomes, have the ability to transpose thus causing possibly deleterious mutations. In Drosophila, their expression are controlled by piRNAs in the gonads and by siRNAs in somatic tissues.

Our team's projects aim to better understand the dynamics (activation and evolution) of piRNA clusters in heterochromatic locus from which piRNAs are maturated and, using functional screens, to characterize genes involved in siRNA- and piRNA-dependent repression.
Some of those genes have human orthologue with potential therapeutic targets that will help to better understand pathologies related to the invalidation of those pathways.

Some post-transcriptional RNA modifications