Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier

The large maf protein family in the development and the physiopathology of somatosensory circuitry

Pr. Martyn GouldingPr. Jean ValmierDr. P. Carroll

• Somatosensory system = perception of the environment

• Sensory modalities:

Mechanoception(touch)

Thermoception(temperature)

Proprioception(muscle and joints)

Nociception (pain)

Somesthesia

Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier P. Carroll

Arrangement of spinal nerves

Specific types of mechanosensory stimulation are transduced by specific types of receptor cells.

Spinal cord Dorsal root ganglion (DRG)

ProprioceptorsTrkC/NT-3

Nociceptors

ThermoceptorsTrkA/NGF

Ret/GDNF

MechanoreceptorsTrkB/BDNF

Flexion Reflex: Withdrawal from Painful Stimuli

Figure 13-8: Flexion reflex and the crossed extensor reflex

Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier P. Carroll

History of the collaboration

Symposium “Somatosensation and Pain”

Max-Delbruck Centre, Berlin - May 2008

P. CarrollJ. ValmierINM/UMIIMontpellierFrance

M. GouldingSalk Institute/UCSDSan DiegoUSA

Hypothesis: MafA labels neurons connected in Sensori-motor circuits

I

II

IIIIV

DRG

Spinal Cord

Hypothetic

known

Spinal Cord

DRG

Discovery of marker of I° touch sensing neuronsCarroll/ValmierINM/UMII, Montpellier

Discovery of marker of 2° touch sensing neuronsGouldingSalk/UCSD

I/II

III/IV

Why collaborate?

Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier P. Carroll

Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier P. Carroll

People involved

P. Carroll (DR2 CNRS)J. Valmier (Pr UMII)

I. Méchaly (MCU, UMII)A. Fichard (MCU, UMII)A. Garces(Chercheur INSERM)S. Venteo (IE INSERM)S. Moussa (Ph.D. Student UMII)

M. Goulding

M. Garcia del BarrioK. GrossmannS. Bourane

Team: Neural differentiation and connectivity

in the somatosensory system

Team:Molecular Neurobiology Lab

Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier P. Carroll

Funding

• Mobility• Shared tools• Running costs

• 1 Ph. D. student salary for 3 years Montpellier

220 k$

~ 100 k€

Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier P. Carroll

• Scientific collaboration - from Sept 2009

Assessment of the project so far

2010 Montpellier: Validation of MafA-GFP transgenic mice April 2011: send mice to Salk Institut

2011 San Diego: Finish creation of MafA-flipase transgenic mice July 2011: send mice to Montpellier

2011 San Diego: June 2011. S. Moussa will do neuronal tracing studies on MafA-GFP mice in San Diego

Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier P. Carroll

• Mobility

Assessment of the project so far

Jan 2010 S. Bourane

France USA

Sept 2009 Meeting M. Goulding

July 2010 Meeting M. GouldingS. Bourane

Nov 2010 P. Carroll A. Garces S. Venteo S. Moussa

Post-doc training

Meeting

June 2011 S. Moussa Experiments on tracing neuronalconnection

Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier P. Carroll

Benefits of PUF program

• Structuration of the collaboration

• Maintain our leader position in this research area

• Mobility – discussions, training, motivation ….

• New collaborators – Birchmeier group in Berlin - future network on somatosensation research?

Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier P. Carroll

MERCI!

Somatosensory system

Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier

Muscle spindle

• Thermonociception

• Mechanoception

• Proprioception

Skin

P. Carroll