Research ‒ UPGON ‐ EPFL

We are interested in understanding fundamental cellular processes, including in the context of development. Our main focus is on the mechanisms governing asymmetric division and centriole assembly.

Mitosis in fixed one-cell C. elegans embryo stained with antibodies against tubulin (green), the centrosomal component ZYG-9 (red, yellow in the overlay with green), and counterstained with a DNA dye (blue). Note asymmetric spindle positioning. © EPFL - Gönczy Lab

Asymmetric division

Centriole assembly

Slightly tilted cross-sectional 3D map of the proximal region of the centriole in Trichonympha ssp., illustrating the striking 9-fold radial symmetry of the organelle. The cartwheel structure with stacks of SAS-6-bearing rings is visible in light blue, the more peripheral pinhead element in dark blue. The most peripheral microtubule triplets and the A-C linker connecting are shown in purple. The cross-sectional diameter is ~250 nm. See Guichard et al., 2013. © EPFL - Gönczy Lab — Slightly tilted cross-sectional 3D map of the proximal region of the centriole in Trichonympha ssp., illustrating the striking 9-fold radial symmetry of the organelle. The cartwheel structure with stacks of SAS-6-bearing rings is visible in light blue, the more peripheral pinhead element in dark blue. The most peripheral microtubule triplets and the A-C linker connecting are shown in purple. The cross-sectional diameter is ~250 nm. See Guichard et al., 2013. © EPFL – Gonczy Lab 1/6

Mitotic HeLa human tissue culture cells stained with antibodies against alpha-tubulin (viewed in green), the centriolar protein centrin (viewed in red), and counterstained with a DNA dye (viewed in blue). — Mitotic HeLa human tissue culture cells stained with antibodies against -tubulin (viewed in green), the centriolar protein centrin (viewed in red), and counterstained with a DNA dye (viewed in blue). Middle: control condition; left: cell depleted by RNAi of a component essential for centriole assembly –note monopolar spindle; right: cell depleted by RNAi of a component essential for restricting centriole assembly –note multipolar spindle. See Balestra et al., 2013. 4/6

C. elegans embryo from the zygote to the four cell stage

Control C. elegans embryo breaking symmetry

Aberrant symmetry breaking in C. elegans embryo depleted of AIR-1

Proximal part of centriole

Asymmetric division

Centriole assembly

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