Objective My lab is interested in the development of the tissue that gives rise to vertebrae and skeletal muscles called the paraxial mesoderm. A striking feature of this tissue is its segmental organization and we have made major contributions to the understanding of the molecular control of the segmentation process. We identified a molecular oscillator associated to the rhythmic production of somites and proposed a model for vertebrate segmentation based on the integration of a rhythmic signaling pulse gated spatially by a system of traveling FGF and Wnt signaling gradients. We are also studying the differentiation of paraxial mesoderm precursors into the muscle, cartilage and dermis lineages. Our work identified the Wnt, FGF and Notch pathways as playing a prominent role in the patterning and differentiation of paraxial mesoderm. In this application, we largely focus on the molecular control of paraxial mesoderm development. Using microarray and high throughput sequencing-based approaches and bioinformatics, we will characterize the transcriptional network acting downstream of Wnt, FGF and Notch in the presomitic mesoderm (PSM). We will also use genetic and pharmacological approaches utilizing real-time imaging reporters to characterize the pacemaker of the segmentation clock in vivo, and also in vitro using differentiated embryonic stem cells. We further propose to characterize in detail a novel RA-dependent pathway that we identified and which controls the somite left-right symmetry. Our work is expected to have a strong impact in the field of congenital spine anomalies, currently an understudied biomedical problem, and will be of utility in elucidating the etiology and eventual prevention of these disorders. This work is also expected to further our understanding of the Notch, Wnt, FGF and RA signalling pathways which are involved in segmentation and in the establishment of the vertebrate body plan, and which play important roles in a wide array of human diseases. Fields of science medical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologycells technologiesstem cells Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-AG-LS3 - ERC Advanced Grant - Cellular and Developmental Biology Call for proposal ERC-2009-AdG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Host institution CENTRE EUROPEEN DE RECHERCHE EN BIOLOGIE ET MEDECINE EU contribution € 2 500 000,00 Address Rue Laurent Fries 1 67404 Illkirch Graffenstaden France See on map Region Grand Est Alsace Bas-Rhin Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Olivier Pourquie (Prof.) Administrative Contact Steve Brooks (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CENTRE EUROPEEN DE RECHERCHE EN BIOLOGIE ET MEDECINE France EU contribution € 2 500 000,00 Address Rue Laurent Fries 1 67404 Illkirch Graffenstaden See on map Region Grand Est Alsace Bas-Rhin Activity type Research Organisations Principal investigator Olivier Pourquie (Prof.) Administrative Contact Steve Brooks (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data