The nuclear envelope (NE) is the physical limit defining the nucleus, the major eukaryotic cell compartment containing the genetic material. This double proteo-lipid bilayer and the embedded nuclear pores complexes (NPCs) allow the regulation of nucleo-cytoplasmic exchanges and contribute to major aspects of cell life, including the control of cell cycle and gene expression.

The NE in yeast was also involved in chromatin organization and spatial gene regulation. Although recent examples of similar functions have been suggested for the NE in metazoan, its active role in the control of development and cell differentiation has not been demonstrated yet. Due to its central and multiple functions, its mitotic dynamics as well as its complexity, understanding NE functions is a challenge and requires the development of a novel approach integrating cell and developmental biology.

We tackle these questions by taking advantage of C. elegans embryos as an experimental system allowing a simplified analysis of cell division using fast-4D-live imaging to reveal primary defects on mitotic NE dynamics combined with an integrated analysis to reveal fine tuning essential functions of the nuclear envelope during development.

We are interested in...    >> read more.