The Laboratory of Membrane Biogenesis (LBM) is almost 50 years old!
It was created on January 1, 1973 by Prof. Claude Cassagne, first as an Associated Research Team (ERA 403) on the campus of Talence and then within the Institute of Cell Biology and Genetics (IBGC). In 1994, the LBM is created as a full-fledged laboratory in Joint Research Unit (UMR) associated with the CNRS and the University of Bordeaux on the university campus of Carreire. Since June 2012, the LBM is located on the campus INRAE in Villenave d’Ornon (“Campus Vert”). The LBM is part of the Research Department of Environmental Sciences of the University of Bordeaux and is associated with the Institute of Biological Sciences of the CNRS (section 23 “Integrative Biology of photosynthetic organisms and associated microorganisms”). The research activity of the LBM is dedicated to the study of plant lipids involved in different cellular processes such as membrane organization, secretory pathway, surface lipids, cell-to-cell communication, autophagy or oil accumulation. The LBM has developed a strong network of international, national and local collaborations and has recently organized several major conferences and workshops in the field such as the “European Network for Plant Endomembrane Research” in 2016 or the 16th GERLI Lipidomics conference in 2021.
The LBM is organized into two research areas that work closely together.
- The team “Membrane dynamics in intra- and inter-cellular trafficking” (Leaders: E. Bayer and Y. Boutté) aims to study the role of lipids and proteins in the formation of the plasma membrane by the secretory pathway and its organization at different scales: molecular, cellular and tissue. Molecular trafficking within the plant cell and between cells is studied in order to better understand the establishment of multicellularity in plants or the propagation of viruses for example. In this context, our research project is organized around 3 thematic axes with common scientific questions: Nanodomains and plasma membrane signaling; Role of plasmodesmata organization in intercellular trafficking; Role of lipids in intracellular trafficking.
- The team “Lipid function in plant response to environmental changes” (Leaders: C. Bréhélin and F. Domergue) studies the functions of lipids in various plant response programs, in particular to nutritional deficiency, water deficit or thermal stress. Our work aims at characterizing the effects of such stresses on lipid metabolism as well as on the formation, organization and functions of macromolecular structures such as biological membranes, lipid droplets, autophagy vesicles and lipid barriers. Our research covers a diversity of models and metabolic pathways linking molecular, macromolecular, metabolic and cellular processes to plant physiology. In particular, the team aims to obtain a comprehensive view of the multiple and collaborative processes that lipids instruct to support plant response and adaptation to environmental changes. In this context, our research project is organized around 3 thematic axes with common scientific questions: Surface lipids; Lipid droplets; Lipids associated with autophagy.
The LBM also includes a Lipidomics Platform, component of the platform “Metabolome” of the Functional Genomics Center of Bordeaux, and a technology transfer cell, LEB (for Lipids Environment and Biotechnology) Aquitaine Transfert.
The Lipidomics Platform performs all types of lipid analysis (dosage, identification, etc.) for academic laboratories and companies. Since 2011, its activity has benefited greatly from the presence of a permanent Research Engineer, L. Fouillen (IR CNRS), joined in 2016 by an Assistant Engineer, P. Van Delft (AI CNRS), who develop different methods of lipid analysis in GC- and LC-MS/MS and lead the platform.
The technology transfer unit (LEB Aquitaine Transfert) is specialized in the field of lipids from plants and microorganisms. It offers services and/or innovative technological research in the field of the environment and biotechnologies. Its partners are both public organizations and private companies. LEB Aquitaine Transfert was created in 2012 by ADERA and is managed by a permanent Research Engineer (M. Le Guédard, IR ADERA).
