Charles Ducrot
Post-doctorant
/ Contact
www.orcid.org/0000-0002-5451-1610
The Adhesive Language of Synapses
Exploring how adhesion molecules shape synaptic architecture
I am a neuroscientist and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS, Bordeaux, France). My research focuses on understanding how synapses form, organize, and diversify in the brain. From my doctoral work on Neurexins in Montréal to my current postdoctoral studies on Neuroligins in Bordeaux, I seek to uncover how cell-adhesion molecules control the establishment of synaptic contacts and shape synaptic architecture.
During my PhD in the laboratory of Prof. Louis-Éric Trudeau, I investigated the axonal development and connectivity of dopaminergic neurons. By combining transmission and scanning electron microscopy, live-cell imaging, and behavioral approaches, I revealed the dual nature of dopaminergic terminals and demonstrated a critical role of Neurexins in shaping their synaptic organization and their glutamate and GABA co-transmission.
Since October 2021, I have been conducting postdoctoral research at IINS, first under the supervision of Dr. Olivier Thoumine and currently in Dr. Mathieu Letellier’s group. Here, I use advanced imaging and molecular approaches, including electron microscopy, novel nanobody-based probes, and a newly generated bAP-Nlgn1 knock-in mouse line, to map the nanoscale organization and function of Neuroligin-1 at both excitatory and inhibitory synapses.
My background in synapse formation and exocytosis, combined with expertise in adhesion molecules and multiscale imaging, places me in a unique position to dissect the molecular logic that defines synaptic identity across neural circuits. Supported by competitive fellowships (Marie Skłodowska-Curie, FRM, FRQS, Parkinson Canada), my long-term goal is to establish an independent research program elucidating how adhesion molecules such as Neurexins determine synaptic specificity in the mammalian brain.
Publications
PubMed – Charles Ducrot
Publications
-
High-affinity detection of biotinylated endogenous neuroligin-1 at excitatory and inhibitory synapses using a tagged knock-in mouse
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.. 2025-05-27. 122(22)
10.1073/pnas.2411669122 -
Conditional deletion of neurexins dysregulates neurotransmission from dopamine neurons
eLife. 2023-07-06. 12
10.7554/eLife.87902 -
Implication of synaptotagmins 4 and 7 in activity-dependent somatodendritic dopamine release in the ventral midbrain
Open Biol.. 2022-03-01. 12(3)
10.1098/rsob.210339 -
Neurexins Regulate GABA Co-release by Dopamine Neurons
Preprint bioRxiv. 2021-10-17.
10.1101/2021.10.17.464666 -
Neonatal 6‐OHDA lesion of the SNc induces striatal compensatory sprouting from surviving SNc dopaminergic neurons without VTA contribution
Eur J Neurosci. 2021-09-20. 54(7) : 6618-6632.
10.1111/ejn.15437 -
The calcium sensor synaptotagmin-1 is critical for phasic axonal dopamine release in the striatum and mesencephalon, but is dispensable for basic motor behaviors in mice
. 2021-09-16.
10.1101/2021.09.15.460511 -
Dopaminergic neurons establish a distinctive axonal arbor with a majority of non‐synaptic terminals
FASEB j.. 2021-07-28. 35(8)
10.1096/fj.202100201RR -
The challenging diversity of neurons in the ventral tegmental area: A commentary of Miranda‐Barrientos, J. et al., Eur J Neurosci 2021
Eur J Neurosci. 2021-06-01. 54(1) : 4085-4087.
10.1111/ejn.15268 -
Neonatal 6-OHDA lesion of the SNc induces striatal compensatory sprouting from surviving SNc dopaminergic neurons without VTA contribution
Preprint bioRxiv. 2021-03-29.
10.1101/2021.03.26.437271 -
Implication of synaptotagmins 4 and 7 in activity-dependent somatodendritic dopamine release
Preprint bioRxiv. 2021-01-26.
10.1101/2021.01.25.427983 -
Dopaminergic neurons establish a distinctive axonal arbor with a majority of non-synaptic terminals
Preprint bioRxiv. 2020-05-13.
10.1101/2020.05.11.088351 -
Intestinal infection triggers Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms in Pink1-/- mice.
Nature. 2019-07-01. 571(7766) : 565-569.
10.1038/s41586-019-1405-y -
Block Copolymer Brush Layer-Templated Gold Nanoparticles on Nanofibers for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Optophysiology.
ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces. 2019-01-07. 11(4) : 4373-4384.
10.1021/acsami.8b19161 -
Segregation of dopamine and glutamate release sites in dopamine neuron axons: regulation by striatal target cells.
FASEB j.. 2018-07-16. 33(1) : 400-417.
10.1096/fj.201800713rr -
Histamine H3 Receptors Decrease Dopamine Release in the Ventral Striatum by Reducing the Activity of Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons.
Neuroscience. 2018-04-01. 376 : 188-203.
10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.01.027 -
Oleic Acid in the Ventral Tegmental Area Inhibits Feeding, Food Reward, and Dopamine Tone.
Neuropsychopharmacol.. 2017-08-31. 43(3) : 607-616.
10.1038/npp.2017.203 -
Dynamic SERS nanosensor for neurotransmitter sensing near neurons.
Faraday Discuss.. 2017-01-01. 205 : 387-407.
10.1039/c7fd00131b -
Homeostatic regulation of excitatory synapses on striatal medium spiny neurons expressing the D2 dopamine receptor.
Brain Struct Funct. 2015-03-18. 221(4) : 2093-2107.
10.1007/s00429-015-1029-4 -
Cannabinoids reward sensitivity in a neurodevelopmental animal model of schizophrenia: a brain stimulation reward study.
European Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014-09-01. 24(9) : 1534-1545.
10.1016/j.euroneuro.2014.07.003 -
Opposite modulation of brain stimulation reward by NMDA and AMPA receptors in the ventral tegmental area.
Front. Syst. Neurosci.. 2013-01-01. 7
10.3389/fnsys.2013.00057