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Partner 6 Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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University and research group information

The UMR 5166 “Evolution of Endocrine Regulations” is a CNRS/MNHN unit placed within the National Natural History Museum in Paris (France). The team involved in Cascade is that headed by Barbara Demeneix, interested in the molecular basis of thyroid hormone (TH) action. TH (tri-iodothyronine, T3) exerts pleiotropic effects during vertebrate development, growth and is a key modulator of metabolism in adults.
 
Understanding the basis of these pleiotropic actions at the transcriptional and whole animal level is the leitmotiv of the team’s effort. The team uses two main models:
* Metamorphosis in the anuran amphibian, Xenopus
* Regulation of neuronal genes in the mouse.

Contribution to Cascade

We create and test amphibian tadpole models for detecting endocrine disruption. This model is chosen for three reasons:

1. if many endocrine disrupters are postulated to interfere with thyroid signalling;

2. amphibian metamorphosis is entirely dependant on thyroid hormone;

3. transgenic, fluorescent tadpoles can be used for screening effects of endocrine disruptors on thyroid signalling.

Representative scientific article as relevant to Cascade

Coen L, du Pasquier D, Le Mevel S, Brown S, Tata J, Mazabraud A, Demeneix BA. Xenopus Bcl-X(L) selectively protects Rohon-Beard neurons from metamorphic degeneration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Jul 3; 98(14):7869-74. Epub 2001 Jun 26.
 
Havis E, Sachs LM, Demeneix BA. Metamorphic T3-response genes have specific co-regulator requirements. EMBO Rep. 2003 Sep;4(9):883-8. Epub 2003 Aug 15.
 
Sachs LM, Le Mevel S, Demeneix BA. Implication of bax in Xenopus laevis tail regression at metamorphosis. Dev Dyn. 2004 Dec; 231(4):671-82.
 
Rowe I, Coen L, Le Blay K, Le Mevel S, Demeneix BA. Autonomous regulation of muscle fibre fate during metamorphosis in Xenopus tropicalis. Dev Dyn. 2002 Aug; 224(4):381-90.
 
Safi R, Bertrand S, Marchand O, Duffraisse M, de Luze A, Vanacker JM, Maraninchi M, Margotat A, Demeneix B, Laudet V. The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), a neotenic amphibian, expresses functional thyroid hormone receptors. Endocrinology. 2004 Feb;145(2):760-72. Epub 2003 Oct 23.