Composition

Involvement of 23 researchers, professors and assistant-professors, engineers, technicians corresponding to 10.9 full-time:

• 4.45 full-time from Inserm including 3 engineers dedicated to PRIMACEN
• 1.45 full-time from the University of Rouen including PU, MCU et ITAOS
• 5 full-time non-permanent positions (Inserm or University of Rouen).

  Activity

Main activities

PRIMACEN encompasses 6 core-facilities covering the field of cellular imaging from the synthesis of biomarkers and sample preparation to the localization and the determination of biological activity of molecules of interest.

      The specific offers of each facility include the following applications:

• Synthesis of peptides and biomarkers: design, synthesis, purification, analysis and characterization of peptides (notably for functional studies and production of antibodies), peptide analogs and biomarkers (biotinylated, fluorescent, iodinated molecules...).

• Screening of bioactive compounds: identification of bioactive molecules and determination of biological activities of natural/endogenous and synthetic molecules.

• Wide-field microscopy and autoradiography: localization of molecules of interest (neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, receptors, enzymes…) by immunohistochemistry, localization of mRNAs by in situ hybridization and radioligand binding on tissue sections.

• Confocal microscopy and videomicroscopy: localization of molecules of interest (neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, structural proteins, receptors, ion channels, transcription factors, enzymes, …) in bacteria, plants, animals and human ; spatio-temporal studies of biological events (time lapse…) in living cells and tissues.

• Electron microscopy: localization and identification of molecules of interest (glucide and protein epitopes) by immunocytochemistry at the subcellular level in bacteria, plant, animal and human cells.

• Microdissection and real-time PCR: tissue sections on cryomicrotomes and vibratomes, laser microdissection, surgery for small animals, quantification of transcription of genes expressed in microdissected tissues or cultured cells.

Complementary activities

• Consulting in cell imaging and biomarker synthesis
• Technology survey and development of new technological approaches in cell imaging systems
• Training and education
• Scientific animation : symposia and workshops
• Industrial partnerships and support to start-up development
• Scientific information release and science promotion to public.

  Main contributions

• Role of PACAP in cell migration, differentiation and survival during development and physiopathological conditions.
• Identification of new ligands/receptors (ODN, SS2, UII, URP, 26RFa, kisspeptins,…)
• Role of neuropeptides in the control of neurosteroid biosynthesis
• Role of selenoprotein T in cell protective process
• Role of tau protein in dementia
• Mechanisms of action of neuropeptides (ODN, UII, 26RFa,…) in the central control of feeding behavior
• Structural and functional analysis of complex polysaccharides and glycoproteins in plants