Leaders: Stéphane Bodin, Laura Picas & Cyril Favard
Inaugural symposium was held on 2025, October 22nd
The Cell Membranes and Cytoskeleton (CMC) axis is a vibrant hub of scientific collaboration, uniting BIOLuM research groups with diverse areas of expertise including cell biology, biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology. This interdisciplinary approach is key to our mission: to explore the dynamic architecture and function of cell membranes and cytoskeletal networks in physiological and pathological contexts (embryogenesis, neurodevelopment, bone homeostasis, host-pathogen interactions, invasive tumor development, …).
Through the use of in vitro reconstituted systems, 2D/3D cultures, animal models (mouse, zebrafish, Xenopus), genetics, and quantitative imaging, the CMC axis research is at the forefront of understanding the molecular mechanisms of membrane and cytoskeleton organization, dynamics, and self-assembly of its key components. Our work is crucial in deciphering key cellular processes such as cell migration and division, signaling, autophagy, morphogenesis, vesicular and membrane trafficking, actin, septins, and microtubule remodeling, lipid transport, membrane contact sites, and nuclear transport.
Starting with Biology, the axis aims at becoming highly interdisciplinary by integrating Montpellier’s theoretical and experimental physics, chemistry and engineering teams involved in the topic.
Teams involved: Bruno Beaumelle, Anne Blangy & Cécile Gauthier-Rouvière, Matteo Bonazzi, Laurence Briant & Jean-Luc Battini, Fabrice Caudron, Anne Debant, Bénédicte Delaval, Lucile Espert & Mickael Blaise, François Fagotto, Raphael Gaudin, Caroline Goujon, Laurent Kremer, Dimitris Liakopoulos, Maria Moriel-Carretero, Delphine Muriaux & Cyril Favard, Simonetta Piatti, Laura Picas, Serge Roche.