Highlights:
1. Obesity has became a major health problem in development countries. The development of fat cells, or adipogenesis, consists in the generation of adipocyte precursors (preadipocytes) from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), followed by terminal differentiation of these preadipocytes in lipid-packed mature adipocytes. While the events controlling preadipocyte differentiation have been largely explored in recent years, surprisingly little is known about the early steps of adipogenesis and the developmental origin of adipose tissues.
1. Obesity has became a major health problem in development countries. The development of fat cells, or adipogenesis, consists in the generation of adipocyte precursors (preadipocytes) from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), followed by terminal differentiation of these preadipocytes in lipid-packed mature adipocytes. While the events controlling preadipocyte differentiation have been largely explored in recent years, surprisingly little is known about the early steps of adipogenesis and the developmental origin of adipose tissues.
2. We have recently provided new information about the origin of adipocytes by demonstrating that, during normal development, a subset of adipocytes in the cranial region of the body is generated by neural crest cells rather than by esodermal progenitors, classically thought to be at the origin of this lineage.
3. Using in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro complementary approaches, we are now interested in understanding whether the differential origin of cranial versus truncal adipocytes also reflect functional differences and site-specific regulations, which could have strong metabolic implications.
4. We are also interested in understanding the molecular pathways underlying neural crest cells induction and differentiation, and in particular how and when the adipocytic lineage segregates in neural crest-derived cells.
5. Project: The candidate will participate in projects focusing on the characterisation of neural crest-derived adipocytic lineage using in vivo lineage-tracing approaches in Sox10-Cre/Rosa26-YFP transgenic mice, where neural crest derivatives are permanently labelled. Particular emphasis will be placed on the isolation of neural crest-derived adipocytic cells in these mice using 6 colors FACS analysis (4,5), and their in vitro characterisation.
6. The candidate will also investigate neural crest cells specification and adipocyte differentiation in embryonic stem (ES) cells and/or human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell culture systems developed in the lab.
7. Profile: Applicants must have obtained Ph.D. or M.D. within the last four years with advanced training and demonstrated scientific accomplishment in developmental biology, stem cell biology and/or cell biology. Experience in mouse embryogenesis and organogenesis, culture and genetic manipulation of embryonic stem cells, histology, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and FACS analysis, will be given priority but is not a prerequisite.
8. Candidates must be self-motivated and creative. Interested applicants should submit a CV and a cover letter outlining their research experience and interests via email to billon@unice.fr before 31/07/09
Contact:
Nathalie Billon, PhD,« Stem cells and adipose tissue development » team of Christian DaniInstitute of Developmental Biology and Cancer IBDC - CNRS UMR 6543Université Nice Sophia-Antipolis - Faculté de Médecine Pasteur (11èmeétage) 28 avenue de Valombrose - 06107 Nice cedex 2 http://www.unice.fr/ibdc/
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