Cell biology.

This unit studies cells and tissues in the perspective of their compartmentalisation and communication between intracellular and extracellular compartments. Accordingly, the unit has an established experience in molecular tracking by analytical subcellular fractionation combined with immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, confocal and electron microscopy, and has gained expertise in co-culture systems and defined proteinase assays. The investigations of the unit are focused on three major topics :

1. endocytosis of exogenous and endogenous (plasma membrane) constituents (P.J. Courtoy);
2. regulation by endocytosis of thyroid hormone production (M.F. van den Hove);
3. mechanisms and control of extracellular matrix degradation with special emphasis on the human endometrium as a model system (Y. Eeckhout, P.J. Courtoy, E. Marbaix).

    

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