In our team, we aim to decipher the mechanisms of meiosis including recombination and chromosome distribution.

We utilise the power of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) in conjunction with molecular biology, advanced genetic screening and super-resolution microscopy.

Several projects utilising these complementary approaches are available for candidates to choose from. While we particularly welcome applicants with expertise in live imaging or biochemistry/structural biology, we are open to scientists with diverse expertise and a passion for researching meiosis and related topics.

Some publications from the team:

Capilla-Perez L, Durand S, Hurel A, Lian Q, Chambon A, Taochy C, Solier V, Grelon M, Mercier R. 2021. The synaptonemal complex imposes crossover interference and heterochiasmy in Arabidopsis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A118: e2023613118e2023613118.

Durand S, Lian Q, Jing J, Ernst M, Grelon M, Zwicker D, Mercier R. 2022. Joint control of meiotic crossover patterning by the synaptonemal complex and HEI10 dosage. Nat Commun 13: 5999.

Girard C, Zwicker D, Mercier R. 2023. The regulation of meiotic crossover distribution: a coarse solution to a century-old mystery? Biochem Soc Trans 51: 1179-1190.

Lian Q, Huettel B, Walkemeier B, Mayjonade B, Lopez-Roques C, Gil L, Roux F, Schneeberger K, Mercier R. 2024. A pan-genome of 69 Arabidopsis thaliana accessions reveals a conserved genome structure throughout the global species range. Nat Genet 56: 982-991.

Lian Q, Solier V, Walkemeier B, Durand S, Huettel B, Schneeberger K, Mercier R. 2022. The megabase-scale crossover landscape is largely independent of sequence divergence. Nat Commun 13: 3828.

Singh DK, Lian Q, Durand S, Fernandes JB, Chambon A, Hurel A, Walkemeier B, Solier V, Kumar R, Mercier R. 2023. HEIP1 is required for efficient meiotic crossover implementation and is conserved from plants to humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 120: e2221746120.