Research in my laboratory focuses on the structural and molecular biology of envelope proteins in Gram-negative bacteria, with a particular emphasis on the function and biogenesis of outer-membrane proteins.
The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is predominantly populated by β-barrel proteins and lipid-anchored proteins that function in concert with the periplasmic and inner-membrane components to serve a variety of biological functions required for bacterial fitness and pathogenesis. Those proteins provide the bacteria with functionalized membranes to interact with its ecological niche; thus promoting the essential transport of metabolites and macromolecules into and out of the cell; mediating social behaviour communications with the host and microbiome; and maintaining the physical integrity of the cell.
At the INRS-Institut Armand Frappier my group uses X-ray crystallography to solve three-dimensional structures of proteins, and analyze their structure-function relationships. This permits to elaborate functional models that are further investigated in the laboratory using multi-disciplinary approaches combining molecular, biophysical, and cell biological techniques.
Supported by: