Fred Bernard
1999 – 2002: Magistère in Genetics, University Paris 7 – Denis Diderot
2002 – 2006: PhD, University Paris 7 – Denis Diderot
2006 – 2010: University of Cambridge, UK – Prof. Sarah Bray
2011 – 2014: Institut Pasteur, Paris – Dr François Schweisguth
2014 – 2015: Institut Imagine, Paris – Dr Matias Simons
Since 2015: Associate Professor in Cell Biology
Aug. 2022: Habilitation to Direct Research (HDR)
Since my recruitment, my research has focused on the molecular mechanisms that control nuclear positioning within a polarized cell, the Drosophila oocyte. My goal is to understand how the organization of the distinct sub-networks of microtubules within this cell generates the forces required for nuclear movement.
Upon arrival, I contributed to a study demonstrating that different microtubule populations govern distinct trajectories within the oocyte (Tissot et al., 2017). Building on this, I investigated the role of microtubule-associated molecular motors in nuclear positioning and identified a key role for Kinesin-1 (Loh et al., 2023).
My current research is structured around three main directions:
- A detailed structure–function analysis of the protein Mud (Mushroom-body Defect), whose role in oocyte development we previously uncovered.
- The characterization of a plasma membrane–associated microtubule network, which led to the identification of an atypical (non-centrosomal) microtubule-organizing center.
- More recently, the development of an optogenetic approach to dissect the individual contribution of distinct microtubule sub-networks.
2025: IDEX-Emergence UPC Funding (€40k): INTEGRULES
2023: GEFLUC Funding (€20k)
2021: GEFLUC Funding (€20k)
2021: IDEX-Emergence UPC Funding (€50k): NUDE, Collaborative project, Co–leader
Maëlys LOH, 2019-2023 (ED BioSPC Fellowship)
Fanny ROLAND-GOSSELIN, 2021-2025 (ED BioSPC Fellowship)
Between 2015 and 2025 :
4 in MSc 2 : (2024, 2021, 2020, 2019)
4 in Master1 (2025, 2023, 2022, 2019)
11 in BSc
2015 – now: Various teachings in Cell Biology & Genetics (BSc to MSc level)
2024 – now: Organizer, International Workshop in Paris (Master in Genetics, M2)
2020 – now: Co-coordinator, international internships of the Master 1 of Genetics
2020 – 2023: Co-coordinator, Tutoring of the Life Sciences Department (UFR SDV)
2023 – now: Director of Undergraduate Studies (BSc 1), Life Sciences Bachelor’s Degree
Full List of publications : https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=HyeFBlMAAAAJ&hl=fr
Supervised students underlined
Lepesant JA, Roland-Gosselin F, Guillemet C, Bernard F, Guichet, A. The importance of the position of the nucleus in Drosophila oocyte development. Cells. 2024;13(2):201
Zhu Z, Becam I, Tovey CA, Yen EC, Bernard F, Guichet A, Conduit PT. (2023). Multifaceted modes of g-tubulin complex recruitment and microtubule nucleation at mitotic centrosomes. J. Cell Biol. 2023 Oct 2; 222(10):e202212043
Loh M, Bernard F §,#, and Guichet A. (2023). Kinesin-1 promotes centrosome clustering and mediates nuclear migration in Drosophila oocyte. Development. 2023 Jul 1;150(13):dev201728.
- Co-last Author, #Corresponding author
Bernard F#, Jouette J, Durieu C, Le Borgne R, Guichet A, and Claret S. (2021). GFP-Tagged Protein Detection by Electron Microscopy Using a GBP-APEX Tool in Drosophila. Front. Cell Dev. Biol. 9, 1–13.
#Corresponding author
Loh M, Guichet A, and Bernard F§,#. (2021). Nuclear Migration in the Drosophila Oocyte. J. Vis. Exp. 1–12.
- Last Author ; #Corresponding author
Tovey CA, Tsuji C, Egerton A, Bernard F, Guichet A, de la Roche M and Conduit PT. (2021). Auto-inhibition of Cnn binding to γ-TuRCs prevents ectopic microtubule nucleation and cell division defects. J. Cell Biol. 220, e202010020.
Mukherjee A, Brooks P, Bernard F, Guichet A, Conduit PT. The somatic Golgi nucleates microtubules that are directed by Kinesin-2 to maintain microtubule polarity within neurons ELife 2020 Jul 13 ; 9 :e58943.
Bernard F#, Lepesant JA, Guichet A. Nucleus positioning within Drosophila egg chamber. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology. 2018 Oct ; 82 :25-33
#Corresponding Author
Couturier L*, Mazouni K*, Bernard F*, Besson C, Reynaud E, Schweisguth F. Regulation of cortical stability by RhoGEF3 in mitotic Sensory Organ Precursor cells in Drosophila. Biol Open. 2017
*Co-first author
Tissot N, Lepesant JA, Bernard F, Legent K, Bosveld F, Martin C, Faklaris O, Bellaiche Y, Coppey-Moisan M, Guichet A. Distinct molecular cues ensure a robust microtubule-dependent nuclear positioning in the Drosophila oocyte. Nature Comm. 2017 Apr 27 ;8, 15168.
Besson C*, Bernard F*, Corson F, Rouault H, Reynaud E, Keder A, Mazouni K, Schweisguth F. Planar Cell Polarity breaks the symmetry of PAR protein distribution prior to mitosis in Drosophila Sensory Organ Precursor cells. Current Biology. 2015 Apr 20;25(8):1104-1110.
*Co-first author
Terriente-Felix A, Li J, Collins S, Mulligan A, Reekie I, Bernard F, Krejci A, Bray SJ. Notch cooperates with Lozenge/Runx to lock cells into a differentiation programme. Development. 2013 Feb;140(4):926-37.
Djiane A, Krejci A, Bernard F, Fexova S, Millen K, Bray SJ. Disssecting the mechanisms of Notch induced hyperplasia. EMBO J. 2013 Jan 9;32(1):60-71.
Housden B, Fu A, Krejcì A, Bernard F, Fischer B, Tavaré S, Russell S, Bray SJ. Transcriptional dynamics elicited by a short pulse of Notch activation. PLoS Genet, Jan 2013 9(1): e1003162.
Bernard F, Krejcì A, Housden B, Adryan B, Bray SJ. Specificity of Notch pathway activation: Twist controls the transcriptional output in adult muscle progenitors. Development. 2010 Aug; 137(16):2633-42.
Bray SJ, Bernard F§ Notch targets and their regulation. Curr Top. Dev. Biol. 2010 ; 92 :253-75.
- Last Auteur
Pines MK, Housden B, Bernard F, Bray SJ, Röper K. The cytolinker Pigs is a direct target and a negative regulator of Notch signalling. Development. 2010 Mar; 137(6): 913-22.
Bernard F, Kasherov P, Grenetier S, Dutriaux A, Zider A, Silber J, Lalouette A. Integration of differentiation signals during indirect flight muscle formation by a novel enhancer of Drosophila vestigial gene. Developmental Biology, 2009 Aug 15; 332(2): 258-72.
Krejcì A*, Bernard F*, Housden BE, Collins S, Bray SJ. Direct response to Notch activation: signaling crosstalk and incoherent logic. Science Signalling. 2009 Jan 27; 2(55):ra1
*Co-first author
Bernard F, Dutriaux A, Silber J, Lalouette A. Notch pathway repression by vestigial is required to promote indirect flight muscle differentiation in Drosophila melanogaster. Developmental Biology. 2006 Jul 1; 295(1):164-77.
Parvy JP, Blais C, Bernard F, Warren JT, Petryk A, Gilbert LI, O’Connor MD, Dauphin-Villemant C. A role for ßFTZ-F1 in regulating ecdysteroid titers during post-embryonic development in Drosophila melanogaster. Developmental Biology. 2005 Jun 1; 282(1):54-94.
Bernard F, Lalouette A, Gullaud M, Jeantet AY, Cossard R, Zider A, Ferveur JF, Silber J. Control of apterous by Vestigial drives indirect flight muscle development in Drosophila. Developmental Biology. 2003 Aug 15; 260(2):391-403.
Organization of Scientific Conferences
2015 – now: Co-organizer of the monthly meetings of DIF (Drosoph’Ile de France)
2020 – now: Co-organizer of the VIP&DIF symposiums
Elected Positions at the University
2021 – 2025: Elected representative Rank B on the Departmental council of the Life Sciences Department (UFR SDV)
2023 – now: Member of the executive board of the Life Sciences Department (UFR SDV)
2025 – now: President of the Teaching Council of Life Sciences Department (UFR SDV)
Scientific Societies
2023 – now: Vice-President of the French Society of Genetics