Catherine Marquer Email & Phone Number

Paris, Île-De-France, France

Greater New York City Area

A growing set of evidence from human genetic studies indicates that variants in genes involved in lipid metabolism and endolysosomal trafficking are risk factors to develop Alzheimer's disease. Maintaining the correct function of the endolysosomal pathway is a key feature of cellular homeostasis, as it regulates not only the uptake but also the correct targeting to recycling, degradation, or extracellular export of essential small molecules and proteins. This is even more critical in cells like neurons, with elongated and highly specialized subregions (i.e. dendrites vs. axon). In my lab, we focus on how lipids of the endolysosomal pathway can regulate its function, in both healthy and diseased states. These lipids include cholesterol, phosphoinositides, and BMP (also called LBPA). Our goal is to provide insight into Alzheimer's disease onset and progression, as well as possible therapeutic options. Currently, the questions we are trying to address in my lab are: 1. Can we find new lipid-centric pathways and mechanisms to regulate endolysosomal function in neurons? 2. How do cellular lipid and endolysosomal modifications translate in terms of function or toxicity at the network/whole brain level in murine models and in humans? 3. What can we learn from lysosomal storage disorders to expand our understanding of Alzheimer's disease, and vice versa?

Greater New York City Area

New York City, Ny, Usa

Hôpital De La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France

During my first post-doctoral experience, I managed a project assessing the role of cholesterol in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease, using a model of primary cultured neurons. This necessitated becoming familiar with state-of-the-art microscopy techniques (FCS, STED) or even using novel microscopes developed in collaboration with physicists (TIRF-FLIM-FRET). The main results of my work was that a discrete increase in cholesterol in neurons, corresponding to the increase observed in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients, was enough to trigger (i) transcriptional modifications, (ii) early endosomes enlargment, (iii) Abeta42 increase and (iv) axonal transport deficits, all reminiscent of early cellular phenotypes of Alzheimer's disease.During this time, I participated in the writing of multiple grants and supervised the work of 3 students and 1 research engineer. Additionally, I volunteered to teach microscopy to sophomore medical school students.

Chicago, Illinois, Usa

As a FACCTS (France And Chicago Collaborating in The Sciences) grant recipient, I spent a summer in the lab of Pr. Gopal Thinakaran where I studied the effect of cholesterol on the axonal transport of APP by live-imaging.

Saclay, France

Magistère, Chemistry, Biochemistry

Education record