LeBorgne:Research

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Research interests

Unequal segregation of Numb (red) in dividing SOP, tubulin (green)

Asymmetric cell division is a conserved mechanism by which cell fate diversity is generated during Metazoan development. How one cell can generate two daughter cells with different identities and how defects in this asymmetry can contribute to cancer are the fundamental questions we are addressing in Drosophila. We are investigating this process in the context of asymmetric cell division of neural precursor cells, called Sensory Organ Precursor (SOP). These latter undergo four rounds of asymmetric divisions, in which mother cells generate distinct daughters via the unequal segregation of the cell-fate determinants Numb and Neuralized at mitosis. At each division binary cell fate decision are regulated by Delta-Notch dependent cell-cell signalling. Numb is an endocytic protein that can bind to Notch and a four pass transmembrane protein named Sanpodo (Spdo), a protein required for Notch activation in SOP lineage, thereby preventing Notch activation in this cell. Neur acts in SOPs and pIIb cells to regulate the endocytosis and signalling activity of Dl, thereby promoting N activation in non-SOP (lateral inhibition) and pIIa cells (binary cell fate decision), respectively. Despite intensive studies, the mechanism whereby Neur regulates Dl activity is not known. Two non-exclusive models have been proposed to explain the role of ubiquitin-dependent endocytosis of Dl in Notch receptor activation. First, the ‘pulling’ model proposes that internalization of Dl bound to its receptor exerts pulling forces on Notch and induces a conformational change exposing the S2 cleavage site to metalloproteases. Alternatively, the ‘activation/recycling’ model proposes that internalization is required to promote the formation of active ligands that are recycled back to the cell surface to activate Notch1. However the nature of the ligand activation and the subcellular localisation where recycled Dl could interact with Notch to produce signalling remained unknown. Our research aims to understand how intracellular trafficking contributes to the definition of the polarity axis of the divisions and ensure the proper spatio-temporal regulation of Notch-dependent fate decision.

Current ongoing projects

We identified clathrin adaptor AP-1 complex as a negative regulator of Notch signalling. Inactivation of AP-1 causes ligand-dependent activation of Notch leading to a fate transformation within sensory organs. Loss of AP-1 causes apical accumulation of the Notch activator Sanpodo and stabilization of both Sanpodo and Notch at the interface between SOP daughter cells, where DE-Cadherin is localized. Our data point towards a specific DE-Cadherin-rich junctional contact containing Notch and Sanpodo that could serve as a launching platform from where ligands are trafficked for signalling. We are currently investigating the molecular mechanisms by which AP1 complex regulates Notch signaling by: 1- identifying the site and mechanism of action of AP-1 at both light and electron microscopy level. 2- characterizing novel interactors of AP-1 identified by genetic and biochemical (proteoliposomes) approaches; 3- investigating the link between AP-1-dependent E-Cadherin junctional domain and Notch signaling in different fly epithelia, 4- investigating the reassembly of adherens junctions/maintenance of epithelial polarity following asymmetric cell division

fundings

Our research is currently funded by the CNRS, ANR Programme Blanc ApiNotch 2012-2015, La ligue contre le Cancer