Plant Imaging and Mass Spectrometry

Leader: Dimitri HEINTZ

Description

Our team is specialized in the development of experimental design aimed to the identification of small bioactive molecules coming from plants mainly but also from animals, microbes and human. Small molecules made by living organism are also named metabolites. Therefore has been coined in the late 90s the word Metabolomics which represent the field that study the metabolomes. In our group small molecules identification is made by means of modern analytical tools using chromatography and mass spectrometry.

Our laboratory is certified since 2013 ISO9001 for service, research, development and for training activities.

Expertises

Understanding of plant metabolic networks

Manager : Julie ZUMSTEG

A big challenge for modern agriculture relies on a better understanding of plant metabolic networks responsible of plant growth, plant resistance and plant defense. The project consist on the identification of large set of metabolites, several hundreds of metabolites simultaneously in one single analysis without the need of labeling or purification.

Finding novel Plant derived drugs for human health

Plants contain the largest set of metabolites among the living organism and 80% of the drugs available in modern medicine are plant derived metabolites. The project in association with an industrial partner consists on the identification of new homeopathy drugs that targeted human health.

Environmental Métabolomics

The project consist on the identification of micro-pollutants like pesticides, drugs, in water waste, soil or plants that are able to make phytoremediation (elimination)of micro-polluants.

Research of biomarkers in human diseases

Manager : Dimitri HEINTZ

One project consists on the identification of new biomarkers in human Lewi body disease The other project relies on the identification of biomarkers in human Crown disease by means of metabolomics profiling tools.

Members

Recent publications

  • RUFFENACH L., HEINTZ D., VILLETTE C., COSENTINO C., FUNFSCHILLING D., BODIN F., BAHLOULI N. and CHATELIN S.

    Ultrasonic elastography for the prevention of breast implant rupture: Detection of an increase with stiffness over implantation time

    Journal of Biomechanics, 163:1-7, 2024. | DOI : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.111955DOI logo

  • FAL K., BERR A., LE MASON M., FAIGENBOIM A., PANO E., ISHKHNELI N., MOYAL N.L., VILLETTE C., TOMKOVA D., CHABOUTÉ M.E., WILLIAMS L.E. and CARLES C.

    Lysine 27 of histone H3.3 is a fine modulator of developmental gene expression and stands as an epigenetic checkpoint for lignin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis

    New Phytologist, , 2023.

  • VILLETTE C., MAURER L., ZUMSTEG J., MUTTERER J., WANKO A. and HEINTZ D.

    Mass spectrometry imaging for biosolids characterization to assess ecological or health risks before reuse

    Nature Communications, 4244, 2023. | DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40051-0DOI logo

  • ELSER D., PFLIEGER D., VILLETTE C., MOEGLE B., MIESCH L. and GAQUEREL E.

    Evolutionary metabolomics of specialized metabolism diversification in the genus Nicotiana highlights N-acylnornicotine innovations

    Science Advances, 9(34), 2023. | DOI : 10.1126/sciadv.ade8984DOI logo

  • ZUMSTEG J., HIRSCHLER A., CARAPITO C., MAURER L., VILLETTE C., HEINTZ D., DAHL C., EL NAYAL A., SANGAL V., MAHMOUD H., VAN DORSSELAER A. and ISMAIL W.

    Mechanistic insights into sulfur source-driven physiological responses and metabolic reorganization in the fuel-biodesulfurizing Rhodococcus qingshengii IGTS8

    Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 89:1, 2023. | DOI : https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00826-23DOI logo