Videos
Caffeine = drug?
COFFEE: What NOT TO DO | E=m6²
Whether it's the essential morning drink or the indispensable energy boost of the day, coffee is an integral part of our daily lives. But what actually happens in our bodies from the very first sip? From the stimulating effects of caffeine and common misconceptions about sleep to its health benefits and limits not to exceed, Mac Lesggy and the experts from E=m6 decipher the science of coffee through experiments and simple, accessible explanations.
Many thanks to David Blum, research director at the Lille Neuroscience and Cognition Centre – Inserm, for his answers !
A new therapeutic approach for the treatment of tauopathies
Development of an intracellular tau protein degradation system: towards a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of tauopathies
The aggregation of the brain protein tau is a key feature of a group of diseases called tauopathies, which includes Alzheimer's disease but also much rarer conditions such as tau-associated frontotemporal lobar degeneration (tau-FTD). The aggregated form of tau protein is the main component of various types of well-ordered filaments that constitute the intracellular neurofibrillary tangles observed and characteristic of these tauopathies. Among the many hypotheses leading to tau accumulation in cells, studies have demonstrated a deficiency in the system for degrading intracellular tau protein via the proteasomal pathway. Through this project, our goal is to restore this degradation by adopting a novel intracellular degradation strategy for tau isoforms in order to prevent their accumulation. To achieve these objectives, I will use novel molecular probes corresponding to single-domain antibodies, also known as nanobodies, which are suitable for intracellular applications. These nanobodies, which specifically recognize tau isoforms, will be fused to different domains of E3 ubiquitin ligase, known to promote proteasomal degradation. Validation of this proof of concept will broaden the scope of research to include new therapeutic avenues to explore for tauopathies.
Caffeine and the brain: opposite effects depending on age
Dr. Sabine Levi and Dr. David Blum explore how this familiar molecule affects brain function in different ways, offering their combined perspectives on its effects:
- during the perinatal period, a critical time for the developing brain
- on aging and cognitive decline
Towards a breakthrough against Alzheimer's?
Scientists in Lille have developed small molecules capable of targeting the tau protein, responsible for neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer's disease. Derived from the immune system of llamas, these nanobodies can penetrate cells and stop the toxic aggregation of tau.