LCO2

The Methodology and Synthesis group focuses on carbohydrate chemistry in a very broad sense, from total synthesis, methodology, and the synthesis of biologically active glycomimetics, such as ATP-competitive kinase inhibitors, multivalent systems, carbohydrate-based peptidomimetics, glycosidase inhibitors, biological probes, etc. We specialize in developping novel methodologies and in the synthesis of biologically relevant molecules and natural products. Methodologies and total syntheses are usually initially applied to carbohydrate targets and structures, but we make a conscious effort to extend these methodologies beyond carbohydrates.

SysChem stands for "systems chemistry of biomolecules and prebiotic chemistry". We are generally studying the systemic interactions between synthetic lipophilic peptides, synthetic nucleic acids and racemic, scalemic or natural phospholipids to approach the self-evolution of synthetic living cells. The growth and division of giant phospholipid vesicles is one major research topic. We are studying the mechanism and scope of the phosphorylation of alkanols, nucleosides and glycerols under prebiotic conditions. We also engage in developing synthetic vaccines based on glycolipid vesicles.

More about the SysChem group members and recent publications at: https://www.icbms.fr/en/team/20-lco2-html

The Biological Membranes Group analyses the molecular, structural and mechanistic bases of biological functions by using standard biochemistry techniques (expression and purification of recombinant enzymes, biochemical characterization of these enzymes, study of the structure-function relationships of these molecules, study of protein-ligand and protein-membrane interactions, lipidomics), at the level of both proteins and lipids but also by developing multidisciplinary approaches at the interfaces with Chemistry, Physics and Biology (study of the dynamics and organization of biological membranes under physiological or pathological conditions, development of new fluorescence tools in spectroscopy and microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, polarization modulation-infrared reflection-adsorption spectroscopy, Brewster angle microscopy, rheological and tribological properties of biomimetic or natural vesicles...), purification and characterization of various extracellular vesicles (exosomes, matrix vesicles, synovial vesicles).

In this perspective, several biological models are studied/used ranging from liposomes, lipid monolayers, lipid bilayers to cells.

Two topics are particularly developed (2 theses are in progress) related to the study of the dynamics of biological membranes through the use of fluorescence probes developed in the team. One thesis concerns the "Biophysicochemical characterization of cell membranes during tumorigenesis", with an application to breast and prostate cancer, the other is interested in joint pathologies and is entitled "Role of membrane fluidity in the behavior of synovial vesicles from healthy and pathological sampling ".