Holder of a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Dr. Josée N. Lavoie is a regular researcher at the CHU Research Centre of Quebec-Laval University, oncology axis, and Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology of the Faculty of Medicine at Laval University. She is also a regular researcher at the Centre for Cancer Research at Laval University, and Director of Graduate Programs in Cellular and Molecular Biology of the Faculty of Medicine at Laval University. Her research focuses on fundamental aspects of cell biology, including the molecular mechanisms that control cell division and morphological changes relevant to the development of malignant tumor cell properties. Her work has helped identify the role of small molecular chaperones from the heat shock protein family in cellular stress resistance and cytoskeletal remodeling, as well as highlighting non-apoptotic cell death processes in cancer cells.

Dr. Lavoie received the 2016 Award of Excellence from the Department of Molecular Biology, Medical Biochemistry and Pathology for her contributions to research, teaching and academic management. She has been commissioned, as an expert, to serve on numerous peer review committees of Graduate Studies Research and Training Programs.

Defining the mode of action of the HSPB8-BAG3 chaperone complex in cellular morphodynamics.

Cellular remodeling is essential during processes such as mitosis and cell differentiation. It is largely driven by assembly and disassembly of actin-based mechanosensitive structures that control cell tension. By promoting the sequestration, recycling or degradation of proteins, molecular chaperones appear essential to maintain the dynamics and integrity of the macromolecular structures that form these structures. More specifically, the chaperones of the small HSP family (HSPB), including the HSPB8-BAG3 complex, contribute to and are overactivated in malignant cells. The physiopathological relevance of the HSPB8-BAG3 complex has recently been discovered in humans by identifying mutations in BAG3 and HSPB8 that lead to rare diseases, including myofibrillar myopathy, which is characterized by the fragmentation of muscle actin fibers.

The results of this research will provide insights into relevant targets for the development of novel molecular therapies.

Identify the regulatory elements of nuclear morphodynamics in response to mechanical stress.

The formation of metastases involves the invasion of tumor cells through the tight spaces of the interstitial matrix. This process requires significant cellular deformation, which is limited by the nucleus. The nucleus is surrounded by a nuclear envelope comprising a rigid network of intermediate filaments, the lamina, which protects the genetic baggage and provides resistance to deformation. Recent advances suggest that remodeling of the nucleus architecture contributes to the migration under confinement in a three-dimensional environment and influences the stability of the genome. This remodeling, induced by mechanical forces, would be controlled via physical connections between a contractile perinuclear network formed by actin, myosin II and lamina. It would also involve changes in chromatin organization and gene expression.

The results of this research will make it possible to highlight the regulatory mechanisms exploited by tumor cells during the formation of metastases.

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Guilbert SM, Lambert H, Rodrigue MA, Fuchs M, Landry J, Lavoie JN

HSPB8 and BAG3 cooperate to promote spatial sequestration of ubiquitinated proteins and coordinate the cellular adaptive response to proteasome insufficiency.

Journal Article

FASEB J, 32 (7), pp. 3518-3535, 2018, ISSN: 0892-6638.

Abstract | Links:

Varlet AA, Fuchs M, Luthold C, Lambert H, Landry J, Lavoie JN

Fine-tuning of actin dynamics by the HSPB8-BAG3 chaperone complex facilitates cytokinesis and contributes to its impact on cell division.

Journal Article

Cell Stress Chaperones, 22 (4), pp. 553-567, 2017, ISSN: 1355-8145.

Abstract | Links:

Roux A, Loranger A, Lavoie JN, Marceau N

Keratin 8/18 regulation of insulin receptor signaling and trafficking in hepatocytes through a concerted phosphoinositide-dependent Akt and Rab5 modulation.

Journal Article

FASEB J, 31 (8), pp. 3555-3573, 2017, ISSN: 0892-6638.

Abstract | Links:

Fuchs M, Boulanger MC, Lambert H, Landry J, Lavoie JN

Adenofection: A Method for Studying the Role of Molecular Chaperones in Cellular Morphodynamics by Depletion-Rescue Experiments.

Journal Article

J Vis Exp, (115), 2016.

Abstract | Links:

Fuchs M, Luthold C, Guilbert SM, Varlet AA, Lambert H, Jette A, Elowe S, Landry J, Lavoie JN

A Role for the Chaperone Complex BAG3-HSPB8 in Actin Dynamics, Spindle Orientation and Proper Chromosome Segregation during Mitosis.

Journal Article

PLoS Genet, 11 (10), pp. e1005582, 2015, ISSN: 1553-7390.

Abstract | Links:

Guilbert SM, Varlet AA, Fuchs M, Lambert H, Landry J, Lavoie JN

Regulation of Actin-Based Structure Dynamics by HspB Proteins and Partners (Chapter 18)

Book Chapter

RM, Tanguay; LE, Hightower (Ed.): The big book on small heat shock proteins, pp. 435-456, Cham, Springer International Publishing, 2015, ISBN: 978-3-319-16076-4 (Print) / 978-3-319-16077-1 (Online).

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Landry MC, Champagne C, Boulanger MC, Jette A, Fuchs M, Dziengelewski C, Lavoie JN

A functional interplay between the small GTPase Rab11a and mitochondria-shaping proteins regulates mitochondrial positioning and polarization of the actin cytoskeleton downstream of Src family kinases.

Journal Article

J Biol Chem, 289 (4), pp. 2230-49, 2014, ISSN: 0021-9258.

Abstract | Links:

Gilbert S, Loranger A, Lavoie JN, Marceau N

Cytoskeleton keratin regulation of FasR signaling through modulation of actin/ezrin interplay at lipid rafts in hepatocytes.

Journal Article

Apoptosis, 17 (8), pp. 880-94, 2012, ISSN: 1360-8185.

Abstract | Links:

Klionsky DJ, Abdalla FC, Abeliovich H, Abraham RT, Acevedo-Arozena A, Adeli K, Agholme L, Agnello M, Agostinis P, Aguirre-Ghiso JA, Ahn HJ, Ait-Mohamed O, Ait-Si-Ali S, Akematsu T, Akira S, Al-Younes HM, Al-Zeer MA, Albert ML, Albin RL, Alegre-Abarrategui J, Aleo MF, Alirezaei M, Almasan A, Almonte-Becerril M, Amano A, Amaravadi R, Amarnath S, Amer AO, Andrieu-Abadie N, Anantharam V, Ann DK, Anoopkumar-Dukie S, Aoki H, Apostolova N, Arancia G, Aris JP, Asanuma K, Asare NY, Ashida H, Askanas V, Askew DS, Auberger P, Baba M, Backues SK, Baehrecke EH, Bahr BA, Bai XY, Bailly Y, Baiocchi R, Baldini G, Balduini W, Ballabio A, Bamber BA, Bampton ET, Banhegyi G, Bartholomew CR, Bassham DC, Bast RC Jr, Batoko H, Bay BH, Beau I, Bechet DM, Begley TJ, Behl C, Behrends C, Bekri S, Bellaire B, Bendall LJ, Benetti L, Berliocchi L, Bernardi H, Bernassola F, Besteiro S, Bhatia-Kissova I, Bi X, Biard-Piechaczyk M, Blum JS, Boise LH, Bonaldo P, Boone DL, Bornhauser BC, Bortoluci KR, Bossis I, Bost F, Bourquin JP, Boya P, Boyer-Guittaut M, Bozhkov PV, Brady NR, Brancolini C, Brech A, Brenman JE, Brennand A, Bresnick EH, Brest P, Bridges D, Bristol ML, Brookes PS, Brown EJ, Brumell JH, Brunetti-Pierri N, Brunk UT, Bulman DE, Bultman SJ, Bultynck G, Burbulla LF, Bursch W, Butchar JP, Buzgariu W, Bydlowski SP, Cadwell K, Cahova M, Cai D, Cai J, Cai Q, Calabretta B, Calvo-Garrido J, Camougrand N, Campanella M, Campos-Salinas J, Candi E, Cao L, Caplan AB, Carding SR, Cardoso SM, Carew JS, Carlin CR, Carmignac V, Carneiro LA, Carra S, Caruso RA, Casari G, Casas C, Castino R, Cebollero E, Cecconi F, Celli J, Chaachouay H, Chae HJ, Chai CY, Chan DC, Chan EY, Chang RC, Che CM, Chen CC, Chen GC, Chen GQ, Chen M, Chen Q, Chen SS, Chen W, Chen X, Chen YG, Chen Y, Chen YJ, Chen Z, Cheng A, Cheng CH, Cheng Y, Cheong H, Cheong JH, Cherry S, Chess-Williams R, Cheung ZH, Chevet E, Chiang HL, Chiarelli R, Chiba T, Chin LS, Chiou SH, Chisari FV, Cho CH, Cho DH, Choi AM, Choi D, Choi KS, Choi ME, Chouaib S, Choubey D, Choubey V, Chu CT, Chuang TH, Chueh SH, Chun T, Chwae YJ, Chye ML, Ciarcia R, Ciriolo MR, Clague MJ, Clark RS, Clarke PG, Clarke R, Codogno P, Coller HA, Colombo MI, Comincini S, Condello M, Condorelli F, Cookson MR, Coombs GH, Coppens I, Corbalan R, Cossart P, Costelli P

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy.

Journal Article

Autophagy, 8 (4), pp. 445-544, 2012, ISSN: 1554-8627.

Abstract | Links:

Lavoie JN, Landry MC, Faure RL, Champagne C

Src-family kinase signaling, actin-mediated membrane trafficking and organellar dynamics in the control of cell fate: lessons to be learned from the adenovirus E4orf4 death factor.

Journal Article

Cell Signal, 22 (11), pp. 1604-14, 2010, ISSN: 0898-6568.

Abstract | Links:

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Active projects

  • Centre de recherche sur le cancer, Subvention, Institutionnel - BDR, BDR - Centres de recherche reconnus, from 1996-05-01 to 2023-04-30
  • Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Subvention, Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Centres de recherche affiliés, from 2017-01-01 to 2099-12-31
  • Identifier les caractéristiques définissant les cellules tumorales qui favorisent le caractère envahissant, Subvention, Société de recherche sur le cancer, Subvention de fonctionnement, from 2018-09-01 to 2020-08-31
  • Tyrosine kinase signaling in Nuclear Morphodynamics., Subvention, Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et génie Canada, Subventions à la découverte SD (individuelles et d'équipe), from 2016-04-01 to 2021-03-31

Recently finished projects

  • (FRSQ 78523) Mécanismes régulateurs du contrôle de qualité protéique dans la morphodynamique des cellules cancéreuses, Subvention, Fondation du CHU de Québec, from 2017-04-11 to 2018-04-10
  • (FRSQ 79168)soutien du projet de recherche en oncologie, Subvention, Fondation du CHU de Québec, from 2017-07-20 to 2018-03-31
  • 4D Confocal Imaging of Endogenous Proteins Tagged by CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing, Subvention, Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et génie Canada, Subventions d'outils et d'instruments de recherche (OIR), from 2017-03-31 to 2018-03-30
  • Developing a more efficient anti-cancer drug against breast cancer. (fonds 0493), Subvention, Fondation de l'Université Laval, from 2014-11-05 to 2017-04-04
  • International Collaboration on Bag3 myofibrillar myopathy, Subvention, Bellini Foundation, from 2015-03-01 to 2018-02-28
Data provided by the Université Laval research projects registery