Dr. Julien Courchet’s Lab is focused on the local regulation of the energy metabolism in the developing axon. Indeed, the rapid remodeling of the axon during local morphogenetic events such as axon elongation, branch formation and elimination and synapse consolidation has an important energetic toll. Dr. Courchet’s goal is to characterize some of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the local regulation of the energy metabolism in the axon during the embryonic and postnatal development, and to understand the consequences of disrupting the energy metabolism of developing neurons on axon development and circuit formation in the mouse. His research combines real-time measurement of metabolic activity in developing neurons and in vivo manipulation of gene expression to determine the role of signaling pathways on mitochondria function, cortical axon development and mouse behavior.

Relevant publications

1. The AMPK-related kinase NUAK1 controls cortical axons branching by locally modulating mitochondrial metabolic functions. Lanfranchi M, Yandiev S, Meyer-Dilhet G, Ellouze S, Kerkhofs M, Dos Reis R, Garcia A, Blondet C, Amar A, Kneppers A, Polvèche H, Plassard D, Foretz M, Viollet B, Sakamoto K, Mounier R, Bourgeois CF, Raineteau O, Goillot E, Courchet J. Nat Commun. 2024 Mar 21;15(1):2487.
2. Axon morphogenesis and maintenance require an evolutionary conserved safeguard function of Wnk kinases antagonizing Sarm and Axed. Izadifar A, Courchet J, Virga DM, Verreet T, Hamilton S, Ayaz D, Misbaer A, Vandenbogaerde S, Monteiro L, Petrovic M, Sachse S, Yan B, Erfurth ML, Dascenco D, Kise Y, Yan J, Edwards-Faret G, Lewis T, Polleux F, Schmucker D. Neuron. 2021 Sep 15;109(18):2864-2883.e8.
3. Haploinsufficiency of autism spectrum disorder candidate gene NUAK1 impairs cortical development and behavior in mice. Courchet V, Roberts AJ, Meyer-Dilhet G, Del Carmine P, Lewis TL Jr, Polleux F, Courchet J. Nat Commun. 2018 Oct 16;9(1):4289.