Department Manager

 Laurent BOUGRAT

M. Sc.

Biotechnology Manager

 Cécile FROSINI

PhD, M. Sc.

- The chemistry unit is subdivided into two fields of activity, analytical chemistry and galenics. Analytical chemistry aims at indentifying pheromone messages and galenics aims at making these messages available.

Molecular biology studies and produces, by recombinant technology, the proteins involved in chemical communication. Biochemistry is in charge of the characterization of these proteins for their immunological and functional properties.

The work of the chemistry laboratory is divided into two research lines :

- The identification of pheromones (analytical chemistry). The most appropriate medium is selected along with the corresponding department to capture the pheromonal message. Then the sample is analysed with gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) to obtain its structure. Adsorption, headspace and thermo-desorption techniques are regularly used for the processing of all the samples to be analysed.

- The development of systems permitting the pheromone to be readily available according to the obligations the environment imposes (Galenics). Techniques of active diffusion such as electric diffusers and passive diffusion such as polymers and gels have been developed in our laboratory.

 

The biotechnology laboratory Pherosynthese's function is to study and analyse the proteins involved in animal chemical communication. Pherosynthese is  now a specialist in this field and has had a long interest in studying  pheromones, the molecules of communication. Pheromones are composed of several chemical components working like a code in the olfactory system of animals. There chemical signals are processed by different types of proteins : olfactory receptors or vomeronasals and the olfactory proteins linking the smells or pheromones (Odorant Binding Protein and Pheromone Binding Protein). These proteins are essential for a good integration of animal communication chemical signals.

Studying these proteins appears crucial for a better understanding of animal communication and its influence on their behaviour.
This also leads to the creation of new products, or more efficient ones, for improving animals' well-being and behaviour control.