Study of physical parameters underlying intracellular transport

Physical parameters such as membrane tension or membrane curvature underlie intracellular transport events. To unravel these mechanisms, we develop several biophysical approaches. In recent years, we have mainly used a method consisting in internalizing small polystyrene beads in cultured cells and trapping them with optical tweezers. It allowed us to highlight the mechanical role of actin dynamics in the rheology of the Golgi complex and in Golgi-associated trafficking events, or to investigate the role of the kinesin motor KIF20 in cancer cell mechanics. We are currently focusing on the mechanosensitivity of the Golgi complex and RAB6-mediated post-Golgi secretory pathway.