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Stéphane Lefrançois

Areas of expertise

Neurodegenerative diseases , Biophysic , Cell biology

  • Full Professor

Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie Research Centre

531 des Prairies Blvd.
Laval, Quebec  G7V 1B7
CANADA

See the research centre

Research interests

The goal of my research program is to elucidate the mechanisms cells use to regulate intracellular sorting and trafficking with an emphasis on sorting to and from the lysosomal compartment and the basolateral compartment of polarised cells. The efficient sorting and trafficking to the lysosome is a crucial cellular function that has important implications in human health. Although individually rare, the combined occurrence of the more than 50 Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) have been reported at 1:5000 live births. Interestingly, proteins required in lysosomal sorting and trafficking have been implicated in various other diseases, notably muscular dystrophy, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Using a multifaceted approach that includes cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, high content image acquisition/image analysis, live cell imaging and Bioluminescence Resonance Energy Transfer (BRET), we will identify and characterize key regulators that control intracellular sorting and trafficking that will increase our knowledge on the fundamental aspects of this system and could serve as therapeutic targets for these various diseases.

Publications

In vivo monitoring of the recruitment and activation of AP-1 by Arf1
Sauvageau E, McCormick PJand Lefrancois S (2017)
Sci. Rep., 7:s41598-017-07493-1.

 

Rab7 palmitoylation is required for efficient endosome-to-TGN trafficking
Modica G, Skorobogata O, Sauvageau E, Vissa A, Yip CM, Kim P, Wurtele H and Lefrancois S (2017)
J. Cell Sci., 130:2579-2590.

 

CLN5 is cleaved by members of the SPP/SPPL family to produce a mature soluble protein
Jules F,Sauvageau E, Dumaresq-Doiron K, Mazzaferri J, Haug-Kröper M, Fluhrer R,Costantino S and Lefrancois S (2017)
Exp Cell Res, 357:40-50.

 

Mechanism of insulin resistance in a rat model of renal failure and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Dion F, Dumayne C, Henley N, Beauchemin S, Arias EB, Leblond FA, Lesage S, Lefrancois S, Cartee GD and Pichette V (2017)
PLoS One, 12:e0176650.

 

Adaptive settings for single particle tracking algorithms
Mazzaferri J, Roy J, Lefrancois S and Costantino S (2015)
Bioinformatics. 31:1279-85.

 

Analysis of AQP4 trafficking vesicle dynamics using a high content approach
Mazzaferri J, Costantino S and Lefrancois S (2013)
Biophys. J. 105:328-337.

 

Sortilin turnover is mediated by ubiquitination
Dumaresq-Doiron K, Jules F and Lefrancois S (2013)
Biochem Biophys Res Commun 433:90-95.

 

The role of Ceroid Lipofuscinosis Neuronal protein-5 (CLN5) in lysosomal sorting and trafficking
Mamo A, Jules F, Dumaresq-Doiron K., Costantino S and Lefrancois S (2012)
Mol. Cell. Biol. 32:1855-1866.

 

Effects of chronic renal failure on kidney drug transporters and cytochrome P450 in rats
NaudJ, Michaud J, Beauchemin S, Hébert MJ, Roger M, Lefrancois S, Leblond FA and  Pichette V (2011)
Drug Metab Dispos. 39:1663-1669.

 

Analyzing speckle contrast in HiLo microscopy
Mazzaferri J, Kunik D, Belisle J, Singh K, Lefrançois S, Costantino S (2011)
Optics Express 19:14508-14517.

 

The phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase PI4KIIIais required for the recruitment of GBF1 to Golgi membranes
Dumaresq-Doiron K, Savard MF, Akam S, Costantino S and Lefrancois S (2010)
J. Cell Sci. 123:2273-2280.

 

Downregulation of liver drug metabolizing enzymes in a murine model of chronic renal failure
Dani M, Boisvert C, Michaud J, Naud J, Lefrancois S, Leblond FA, Pichette V (2010)
Drug Metab Dispos. 38:357-360.