https://joliot.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2023/Autophagy-involved-protecting-cells-against-ricin.aspx Website of the Frédéric-Joliot Institute of Life Sciences which includes 4 departments: I2BC, DMTS, NeuroSpin and Service hospitalier Frédéric Joliot (SHFJ). The teams are mainly located at the CEA Paris-Saclay center and at the Orsay hospital. en-US https://www.cea.fr/Style%20Library/Themes/drf/instituts/images/logo-cea-joliot-2023.png https://joliot.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2026/Role-Ist2-membrane-transport-phosphatidylserine.aspx An I2BC team has studied, using both in vitro and in silico approaches, the dynamics of phosphatidylserine transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and the plasma membrane in the yeast S. cerevisiae. Their study reveals that the protein Ist2 exhibits lipid scramblase activity and identifies a functional partnership between Ist2 and the lipid transfer protein Osh6. Cellular mechanisms SB2SM Scientific result Mon, 06 Jul 2026 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2026/Synthesis-evaluation-PROTAC-identification-targets-Retro-2.aspx Researchers from DMTS designed bifunctional PROTAC chemical probes to identify the molecular target(s) of Retro-2 compounds, broad-spectrum inhibitors of intracellular pathogens. Although this approach did not identify new Retro-2 targets, it revealed a molecular glue effect involving the protein GSPT1. Health ＆ life sciences ; Cellular mechanisms SPI Scientific result ; Article Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2026/Identification-new-anti-ricin-monoclonal-antibodies.aspx DMTS teams have characterised 17 monoclonal antibody-candidates targeting ricin using two original biophysical approaches. The identification of ricin residues involved in functional antibody recognition paves the way for the development of powerful monoclonal therapeutic antibodies against this natural toxin, which is a bioterrorism agent. Biodetection ; CBRN-E threats SIMOPRO Scientific result Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2026/Regulation-Fe–S-cluster-biosynthesis-elucidated.aspx A team from I2BC has uncovered the key steps governing the assembly and regulation of iron–sulfur cluster biosynthesis, essential metallic cofactors involved in numerous biological functions. Defects in this process lead to pathologies such as Friedreich’s ataxia. These studies represent major advances toward the development of future therapies. Cellular mechanisms ; Molecular mechanisms ; Diseases SBIGEM Scientific result Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/GMR-sensor-biochip-for-point-of-care-diagnostics.aspx Researchers from IRAMIS and SPI (DMTS) evaluated their GMR-sensor biochip prototype for its ability to detect cancer cells in a complex medium. This approach, which combines sensor physics with medical biology, aims to develop simpler and portable diagnostic tools that meet the WHO criteria for point-of-care testing. Physics ; Biodetection SPI Scientific result ; Article Tue, 30 Sep 2025 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/Ultrasound-counter-exposure-neurotoxic-agent.aspx Researchers from BioMaps (SHFJ), NeuroSpin, and the french IRBA developed an innovative approach using focused ultrasound to improve brain delivery of an antidote, oxime, following exposure to an organophosphorus neurotoxic agent in a murine model. Pharmacology ; Toxicology ; Brain ; CBRN-E threats Neurospin Scientific result preclinic;animal models; Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/Sequence-desordonnee-Rad52-assemblage-Rad51.aspx En utilisant Saccharomyces cerevisiae comme modèle, des chercheurs des instituts CEA-Jacob et CEA-Joliot, et de l’Institut Curie, avec leurs partenaires du synchrotron SOLEIL, ont révélé comment la protéine Rad52 agit comme un chaperon pour guider et stabiliser l’assemblage de Rad51, une étape clé de la recombinaison homologue.​ Structural biology ; Cellular mechanisms ; Molecular mechanisms Researchers SB2SM Scientific result Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/Ricin-passive-immunotherapy-Antibodies.aspx ​The LERI (SPI/DMTS) has developed a new generation of anti-ricin antibodies with a high affinity for the D and E isoforms of the protein, providing effective protection for model mice intoxicated with ricin. CBRN-E threats Researchers SPI Scientific result ; Article toxin;Preclinical;animal models; Fri, 28 Mar 2025 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/detection-ricine.aspx Une équipe du LI-MS (SPI/DMTS) a mis au point une méthode de détection de la ricine combinant l’enrichissement des échantillons grâce à l’affinité de la ricine pour une glycoprotéine et la spectrométrie de masse à haute résolution. CBRN-E threats Researchers SPI Scientific result ; Article Wed, 19 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2025/Universal-identification-pathogenic-viruses-proteotyping.aspx Researchers at Li2D (SPI/DMTS, Marcoule) have proposed an innovative tandem mass spectrometry proteotyping method for the universal identification of pathogenic viruses, requiring no prior knowledge of sample composition. A step towards improved diagnosis of viral infections Virus ; Mass spectrometry ; Biodetection ; CBRN-E threats SPI Scientific result ; Article Wed, 29 Jan 2025 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2024/T-lymphocytes-specific-facteur8.aspx A SIMoS team has made a significant breakthrough in understanding the cellular immune response to factor VIII, a protein essential for blood coagulation, by demonstrating for the first time the existence of human FVIII-specific regulatory T cells in the blood of healthy donors. Cellular mechanisms ; Methodologies for life sciences SIMOPRO Scientific result ; Article Fri, 07 Jun 2024 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2023/Autophagy-involved-protecting-cells-against-ricin.aspx A team from SIMoS and SCBM, in collaboration with researchers from I2BC, has shown that autophagic degradation is at work when mammalian cells are poisoned by ricin. Stimulating this process could provide additional protection against this deadly toxin. CBRN-E threats ; Cellular mechanisms SCBM Scientific result ; Article Thu, 28 Sep 2023 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Institute/2023/NRBC-CEA-Joliot-Jacob-RESILIENCE.aspx CBRN-E threats Joliot Academic partnerships bactéries;toxines;virus;CBRN;menaces radiologiques et nucléaires;santé pour la défense; Fri, 30 Jun 2023 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2022/Mathematical-model-repair-genome.aspx The protocols applied for in vivo mapping of nuclear processes, at the genome scale and at very high spatial resolution, do not allow for high temporal resolution. A team from the I2BC has therefore demonstrated that such an understanding could be wrong by using a mathematical model. This model can be applied to any process that can be modeled by a transition between two states. DNA ; Cellular mechanisms Researchers IBITECS Scientific result XR-seq;réparation de l’ADN;NER; Tue, 13 Dec 2022 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2022/Iron-insertion-initiating-biosynthesis-Fe-S-centers.aspx A team from SBIGeM (I2BC) shows, by several spectroscopic approaches, that the assembly of a Fe-S cluster, the catalytic center of many essential proteins, is a highly conserved process, initiated by the insertion of ferrous iron at the cysteine-rich assembly site of the scaffold protein ISCU (Iron-sulfur cluster assembly enzyme). Health ＆ life sciences ; Fundamental Research ; Cellular mechanisms SBIGEM Scientific result Fri, 09 Dec 2022 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2022/Mediator-transcription-gene-expression-regulation-DNA-repair.aspx An I2BC team has analyzed, at the genome scale of the yeast S.cerevisiae, the functional interactions between the Mediator of gene transcription and DNA repair proteins, reinforcing the idea that these two fundamental cellular processes are closely linked. Molecular mechanisms ; Cellular mechanisms ; DNA SBIGEM Scientific result Mon, 26 Sep 2022 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2022/Food-allergies-sensitization-route-influences-immune-response.aspx Researchers at the LIAA (SPI/DMTS) show that the initial route of sensitization to a food allergen (oral, respiratory, cutaneous) directly influences the nature of immune responses at multiple sites in the body. Allergies ; Cellular mechanisms Researchers SPI Scientific result cellular immune responses;food allergy;BABL/c mice; Mon, 25 Apr 2022 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2022/Autophagy-senescence.aspx Researchers from the Frédéric Joliot Institute have identified ouabain and chloroquine as two selective senolytic molecules that are effective in eliminating certain senescent cells. The study has been published in the journal Aging Cell. Cancer ; Cellular mechanisms Researchers SCBM Scientific result Tue, 15 Mar 2022 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2021/accumulation-mutations-microfluidique.aspx Teams from CEA-Iramis and CEA-Joliot (team "Genome transcriptional regulation /I2BC) have joined forces to develop and validate an innovative microfluidic-based system that automatizes cell culture over many generations. It enables with considerable time savings large-scale experiments to be carried out, which are essential for understanding the cellular mechanisms involved in DNA mutation events. DNA ; Cellular mechanisms Researchers Iramis Scientific result Fri, 11 Jun 2021 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2021/Food-poisoning-SE-targeted-mass-spectrometry.aspx SPI (DMTS), in collaboration with ANSES, has developed a test based on immuno-capture and targeted mass spectrometry for the quantitative and multiplex identification, in dairy products, of the eight main enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus, responsible for food poisoning epidemics. Mass spectrometry ; Toxicology ; CBRN-E threats Scientific result Thu, 18 Mar 2021 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2020/Mambaquaretin-theranostic.aspx In pursuing their work on mambaquaretin, SIMoS researchers conducted a collaborative study confirming the therapeutic potential of the toxin and paving the way for its use as a diagnostic tool. Diagnosis and innovative treatment ; Molecular mechanisms ; Cellular mechanisms SIMOPRO Scientific result PET Scan;PK/PD; Tue, 10 Nov 2020 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2020/Retro1-new-molecule-against-intracellular-pathogens.aspx The SCBM and SIMoS collaborated to optimize the activity of Retro-1, a benzodiazepine compound, inhibitor of Shiga toxins and ricin, derived from high-throughput biological screening. They succeeded in obtaining an analog 70 times more protective against the cytotoxicity of Shiga toxins, Retro-1.1. Chemistry ; High-throughput screening ; CBRN-E threats Scientific result Mon, 14 Sep 2020 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2020/SARS-CoV-2-detection-mass-spectrometry-rapidity.aspx A team from SPI in Marcoule detected by mass spectrometry, in 3 minutes and without specific reagents, signature peptides of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in clinical samples (nasopharyngeal swabs). It thus provides a proof of concept of the use of this method as a possible alternative to PCR, currently the reference method. Mass spectrometry ; Virus ; Biodetection ; Diagnosis Scientific result Thu, 06 Aug 2020 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Institute/2020/Succes-workshop-EuroBioTox.aspx ​​A training seminar "on biological toxins and on site detection" on in situ detection of biological toxins for first responders and validation of forensic procedures was held at CEA Paris-Saclay from 3 to 5 March 2020. Biodetection SPI Event ; Article Tue, 31 Mar 2020 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2020/Identification-target-mechanism-action-anti-infective-drug-candidate.aspx Researchers from SIMoS, SCBM and Institut Curie, in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University (USA), have identified the intracellular target and the mechanism of action of Retro-2, a broad-spectrum inhibitor of intracellular toxins and pathogens. They are now working on the design of an effective drug in the event of a bioterrorist attack or a health crisis. Health ＆ life sciences ; CBRN-E threats Scientific result Wed, 19 Feb 2020 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2020/Characterization-new-player-tolerance-thermal-oxidative-stress.aspx Researchers from SB2SM (I2BC@Saclay) have shown for the first time in vivo in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis that a cellular detoxification enzyme, the membrane glutathione-S-transferase (GST), maintained in part by evolution, plays a major role in resistance to thermal and oxidative stress, making this cellular model a valuable tool for the study of GSTs conserved from bacteria to plants, down to Humans. Photosynthesis ; Stress response Scientific result Tue, 18 Feb 2020 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2020/Magnetic-sensors-ultra-sensitive-biochips.aspx Researchers from IRAMIS collaborated with a team from SPI (LERI) for the development of a microfluidic biochip ("lab-on-chip") based on ultra-sensitive magnetic sensors with giant magnetoresistance (GMR sensors), capable of individually and effectively detect magnetically-labeled biological targets. Biotechnology ; Biodetection ; Physics Scientific result Wed, 08 Jan 2020 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2019/Glucocorticoids-better-evaluation-effect-cancers.aspx Senescence specialists (SBIGEM), in collaboration with the SCBM and the CNRGH (Jacob Institute), show that glucocorticoids can delay or even short-circuit it and disrupt its function as a tumor suppressor. Cellular mechanisms ; Molecular mechanisms ; Cancer Fontenay-aux-Roses Scientific result MEK/ERK;oncogenesis;Senescence; Mon, 09 Sep 2019 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2019/Relaxin-immunogenic.aspx A collaboration between teams from SIMOPRO and Sanofi sheds new light on the origin of the immune responses developed by patients with scleroderma when treated by injection of relaxin, a therapeutic protein. The study was published in The Journal of Immunology. Autoimmune diseases ; Cellular mechanisms Saclay Tue, 18 Jun 2019 10:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2018/Physicist-pharmacologists-to-better-understand-BBB.aspx Thanks to complementary imaging techniques, researchers from the SHFJ and NeuroSpin have shown that the physical blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption is not necessarly enough to deliver some drugs into the brain, especially when there are recognized and supported by efflux transporters. Medical imaging ; MRI ; Positron Emission Tomography ; Cellular mechanisms SHFJ News Thu, 20 Dec 2018 11:00:00 GMT https://www.cea.fr/drf/joliot/en/Pages/news/Science/2018/New-function-discovered-protein-Rad52-serious-therapeutic-target-breast-cancer.aspx Rad52 has garnered great attention lately as a promising target in the battle against certain types of breast cancer. A team from IRCM, in partnership with researchers from the Frédéric-Joliot and Gustave Roussy Institutes, has shed new light on this protein. Stress response ; Molecular mechanisms Jacob Scientific result Rad51 filament;budding yeast;Srs2; Fri, 12 Oct 2018 10:00:00 GMT