Le lundi 24 juin 2024, Raman RATISH présentera l'examen en vue de l’obtention du grade académique de Docteur en Sciences (Collège de doctorat en Biochimie, biologie moléculaire et cellulaire, bioinformatique et modélisation) sous la direction de Marc MULLER et Bernard PEERS.

Cette épreuve consistera en la défense publique d’une dissertation intitulée :

« Osteoblast Transcriptome and Function of ECM protein genes in skeletal formation in zebrafish ».

Abstract

Using the zebrafish as a model system to study skeletogenesis, we analyzed the transcriptome of two distinct osteoblast subpopulations, revealing a complex pattern of signaling pathways and genes governing their differentiation. Studying mutants for genes encoding two extracellular matrix proteins revealed that they interestingly display opposite effects on skeletal development. The col10a1a gene is required for bone mineralization, while the fbln1 gene inhibits pre-osteoblast proliferation and/or differentiation. A mutant in a third gene, efemp1, displayed impaired vertebral body properties reminiscent of spinal osteoarthritis in humans, further highlighting the importance of ECM protein coding genes in skeletal development of zebrafish. Finally, we showed that probiotics are able to increase mineralized bone formation.

Le Jury sera composé de :

M. F. DEQUIEDT (Président), MM. P. GAVAIA (Universidade do Algarve), Y. HENROTIN, M. MULLER (Promoteur), B. PEERS (Co-promoteur et secrétaire), M. THIRY, P. TYLZANOWSKI (KULeuven)