Academic Degrees

2007:
PhD in Neurobiology - University Joseph Fourier- Grenoble
“Alix, a link between cell death and the endolysosomal pathway”
Board of examiners : Pr Nonchev, Dr Mehlen, Dr Micheau, Dr Haase and Dr Aubry

2003:
Master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology - University Joseph Fourier- Grenoble

2002:
Master’s degree in Cell Biology and Physiology - University Joseph Fourier- Grenoble

2001:
Bachelor’s degree in Cell Biology and Physiology - University Joseph Fourier- Grenoble

2000:
General Biology Studies - University Jean Monnet – Saint Etienne

1997-1999:
Faculty of Medicine - University Jean Monnet – Saint Etienne

Research Experiences

2012-present:
Laboratory of Molecular and Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, PI : Prof Hilal Lashuel-EPFL-Lausanne.
Research Associate.
Research Topic : “Role of post-transalational modification on a-synuclein regulation”
Co-supervisor of 2 PhD students.

2007-2011 :
Apoptosis Research Group, PI: Pr. Stefan Grimm – Imperial College- London
Research associate.
Research topic: “The deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 decides about cell death of breast cancer cells”.
Grant: BCC (Breast Cancer Campaign) for 3 years.
Co-supervisor of 2 PhD students.
GM adviser for the Experimental Medicine and Toxicology department, Imperial College.

2002-2007:
Laboratory “Neurodégénérescence et Plasticité”, PI: Pr. Rémy Sadoul - UJF - Grenoble
PhD and Master training period. Head of research: Dr. Sandrine Fraboulet.
Research topic: Alix, a link between neuronal death and the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport, in vivo.
Grant : MNRT (Ministère nationale de la recherche et des technologies).
Teaching (64 hours/year)
Level 1 for the practice and ethics animal experimentation

2001-2002 (3 months)
Laboratory “Neurodégénérescence et Plasticité”, PI: Pr. Rémy Sadoul - UJF - Grenoble
Lab work for the master degree. Head of research: Dr. Sandrine Fraboulet.
Research topic: Overexpression of Alix protein, in vivo, in neural tube of chick embryo.

2001 (6 weeks)
Laboratory “Neurodégénérescence et Plasticité”, PI: Pr. Rémy Sadoul - UJF - Grenoble
Lab work for the Bachelor’s degree. Head of research: Dr. Sandrine Fraboulet
Research topic: Expression of Alix protein during early avian development.

Research Results

I have completed my PhD in Neurobiology in 2007, with underlining the role, in vivo, of Alix and the proteins found in the ESCRT (Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport) complex in the programmed cell death of motor neurons during embryonic development of the chicken. I have furthermore been able to show the role, in vivo, of the TNFR1 (Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1) at the time of death of these motor neurons. I subsequently developed a model of cell death, in vitro, in HEK (Human Embryonic Kidney) cells to determine whether Alix plays a role in the death signalling pathway of TNFR1.
At the end of my PhD, I have joined the Apoptosis group leads by Pr Stefan Grimm at Imperial College and worked during 3 years on the role of USP2, a deubiquitinating protease, in the decision-making between cell death and survival in the TNF? depending signalling pathway in breast cancer cell line MCF7. I have furthermore been able to show that USP2 interacts in a complex with TRAF2 and RIP1 and regulates the ubiquitination state of RIP1 leading to trigger apoptosis via the caspase 8 activation. Moreover, the anti-apoptotic TRAF2 might be a counter-player of pro-apoptotic USP2. Our experiments suggest that the ratio between USP2 and TRAF2 protein level that confers the sensitivity of MCF7 to cell death or cell survival.

Scientific Communcation

Poster Presentation :
Iwasawa R, Mahul-Mellier AL, Datler C and Grimm S. Fission protein Fis1 and Bap31 bridge the mitochondria/ER interface to establish a platform for apoptosis induction. Cell Death, Gordon Research Conference, Newport, 2010.
Mahul-Mellier AL, Datler C, Pazarentzos E, Grimm S. The deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 decides between cell death and survival in the TNFalpha depending signalling pathway. European Cell Death Organisation (ECDO), Paris, 2009. ECDO’s scholarship.
Iwasawa R, Mahul-Mellier AL, Datler C and Grimm S. Fission protein Fis1 and Bap31 bridge the mitochondria/ER interface to establish a platform for apoptosis induction. European Cell Death Organisation (ECDO), Paris, 2009.
Mahul-Mellier AL, Strappazzon F, Petiot A, Chatellard-Causse C, Torch S, Blot B, Freeman K, Kuhn L, Garin J, Verna JM, Fraboulet S, Sadoul R. Alix and ALG-2 are involved in TNF-R1 induced cell death. ESCRTs - from cell biology to pathogenesis, Cambridge, 2008.
Mahul AL, Hemming F, Sadoul R and Fraboulet S. A molecular link between neuronal death and the endo-lysosomal system. Forum of European Neurosciences (FENS), Lisbon, 2004. French Society of Neurosciences ‘s scholarship.

Oral communication :
“The deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 decides between cell death and survival in the TNF? signaling pathway”. Grenoble Institute of Neurosciences, Grenoble, 2010.
“The deubiquitinating enzyme USP2 decides about the cell death of breast cancer cells”. Breast Cancer Campaign Conference, London, 2008.
“Alix/ALG-2, a link between cell death and endolysosomal system”. The Institute of Cancer Research, Dr Pascal Meier’s lab, London, 2007.
“Alix/ALG-2 making a link between endosomes and death signaling in vivo.” 36th Annual Meeting of Neuroscience (SfN), Atlanta, 2006.
“Alix, a link between the endolysosomal system and neuronal cell death in vivo.” Laboratory Motor Neuron development and Pathology, Columbia University, New York, 2006.
“Alix is involved in the programmed cell death of cervical motoneurons in the chick embryo.” PhD student's day, UJF, Grenoble, 2005.