Annie Cavalier

Bio: Annie Cavalier is an academic researcher from University of Rennes. The author has contributed to research in topics: Aquaporin & Membrane. The author has an hindex of 16, co-authored 33 publications receiving 1502 citations. Previous affiliations of Annie Cavalier include University of Strasbourg & Centre national de la recherche scientifique.

Hierarchical architectures by synergy between dynamical template self-assembly and biomineralization

Abstract: Diatoms, shells, bones and teeth are exquisite examples of well-defined structures, arranged from nanometre to macroscopic length scale, produced by natural biomineralization using organic templates to control the growth of the inorganic phase. Although strategies mimicking Nature have partially succeeded in synthesizing human-designed bio-inorganic composite materials, our limited understanding of fundamental mechanisms has so far kept the level of hierarchical complexity found in biological organisms out of the chemists' reach. In this letter, we report on the synthesis of unprecedented double-walled silica nanotubes with monodisperse diameters that self-organize into highly ordered centimetre-sized fibres. A unique synergistic growth mechanism is elucidated by the combination of light and electron microscopy, synchrotron X-ray diffuse scattering and Raman spectroscopy. Following this growth mechanism, macroscopic bundles of nanotubules result from the kinetic cross-coupling of two molecular processes: a dynamical supramolecular self-assembly and a stabilizing silica mineralization. The feedback actions between the template growth and the inorganic deposition are driven by a mutual electrostatic neutralization. This 'dynamical template' concept can be further generalized as a rational preparation scheme for materials with well-defined multiscale architectures and also as a fundamental mechanism for growth processes in biological systems.

A supramolecular assembly formed by influenza A virus genomic RNA segments

Abstract: The influenza A virus genome consists of eight viral RNAs (vRNAs) that form viral ribonucleoproteins (vRNPs). Even though evidence supporting segment-specific packaging of vRNAs is accumulating, the mechanism ensuring selective packaging of one copy of each vRNA into the viral particles remains largely unknown. We used electron tomography to show that the eight vRNPs emerge from a common 'transition zone' located underneath the matrix layer at the budding tip of the virions, where they appear to be interconnected and often form a star-like structure. This zone appears as a platform in 3D surface rendering and is thick enough to contain all known packaging signals. In vitro, all vRNA segments are involved in a single network of intermolecular interactions. The regions involved in the strongest interactions were identified and correspond to known packaging signals. A limited set of nucleotides in the 5' region of vRNA 7 was shown to interact with vRNA 6 and to be crucial for packaging of the former vRNA. Collectively, our findings support a model in which the eight genomic RNA segments are selected and packaged as an organized supramolecular complex held together by direct base pairing of the packaging signals.

Bioinspired structural materials

Abstract: Natural structural materials are built at ambient temperature from a fairly limited selection of components. They usually comprise hard and soft phases arranged in complex hierarchical architectures, with characteristic dimensions spanning from the nanoscale to the macroscale. The resulting materials are lightweight and often display unique combinations of strength and toughness, but have proven difficult to mimic synthetically. Here, we review the common design motifs of a range of natural structural materials, and discuss the difficulties associated with the design and fabrication of synthetic structures that mimic the structural and mechanical characteristics of their natural counterparts.

Cellular and molecular biology of the aquaporin water channels.

Abstract: The high water permeability characteristic of mammalian red cell membranes is now known to be caused by the protein AQP1 This channel freely permits movement of water across the cell membrane, but it is not permeated by other small, uncharged molecules or charged solutes AQP1 is a tetramer with each subunit containing an aqueous pore likened to an hourglass formed by obversely arranged tandem repeats Cryoelectron microscopy of reconstituted AQP1 membrane crystals has revealed the three-dimensional structure at 3-6 A AQP1 is distributed in apical and basolateral membranes of renal proximal tubules and descending thin limbs as well as capillary endothelia Ten mammalian aquaporins have been identified in water-permeable tissues and fall into two groupings Orthodox aquaporins are water-selective and include AQP2, a vasopressin-regulated water channel in renal collecting duct, in addition to AQP0, AQP4, and AQP5 Multifunctional aquaglyceroporins AQP3, AQP7, and AQP9 are permeated by water, glycerol, and some other solutes Aquaporins are being defined in numerous other species including amphibia, insects, plants, and microbials Members of the aquaporin family are implicated in numerous physiological processes as well as the pathophysiology of a wide range of clinical disorders