Life Sciences Division

The LCBM is a federation of cell biologists, protein chemists, synthetic chemists and spectrocopists developing their research in order to provide new insights into the unique question of the physiological function, the structure, the chemical reactivity and the regulation of complex biological systems transporting and utilizing metal ions. This is investigated through a great variety of experimental approaches combining molecular and cellular biology of both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, protein chemistry and enzymology, organic and inorganic synthetic chemistry and physico-chemical methods such as spectroscopy and theoretical chemistry. This research results in new concepts and applications in heavy metal toxicology and remediation, in bacterial pathogenicity and antibiotics, in neurodegenerative diseases, in catalysis and biocatalysis for selective transformations of organic compounds and for hydrogen production.
Currently the following topics are investigated in the LCBM:

• Biocatalysis
Structure and reactivity of metalloenzymes (iron-sulfur enzymes, monooxygenases, reductases, dioxygenases, …)

• Metal transport
Structure and mechanisms of biological systems involved in transport of metal ions (membrane proteins, ATPases,…)

• Oxidative stress and metals
Antioxidant (superoxide and peroxide) systems and regulation

• Metal homeostasis and stress
Regulation of metal ions fluxes in the cell (metalloregulators) and associated pathologies; heavy metal (Cd, Co, …) toxicity and cell response

• Metallosites biosynthesis
Mechanism of assembly of complex metal clusters

• Biomimetic chemistry
New bio-inspired catalysts for selective oxidation reactions and for hydrogen production and new ligands for metal complexation.