Group leader
Professor Frederic Meunier
Research Overview
Our research aims to understand how brain cells communicate and survive in health and disease. We use advanced super-resolution microscopy to study neuronal processes at the nanoscale, with a focus on synaptic transmission and neurotransmitter release. Our work has uncovered how secretory vesicles interact with the cortical actin cytoskeleton before fusing with the plasma membrane to release neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmission and Vesicle Recycling
Our research also sheds light on synaptic vesicle recycling, demonstrating how dynamin and actin coordinate membrane remodelling to form bulk endosomes at the neuromuscular junction. These findings highlight dynamin as a potential therapeutic target in infection and disease.
Super-Resolution Microscopy
We have shown that Munc18-1 and syntaxin-1A form nanoclusters on the plasma membrane that regulate neurotransmission. Using live-cell imaging combined with opto- and thermogenetics, we have characterised how protein mobility controls synaptic activity. We have also developed a super-resolution method that tracks individual synaptic vesicles in living neurons, revealing their dynamic behaviour in resting and stimulated states.
Neurological Disease and Synucleopathies
Our work links Munc18-1 mutations to early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE) and protein aggregation. Importantly, we showed these mutations also promote α-synuclein aggregation, a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, revealing a shared mechanism between epilepsy and neurodegeneration.
Latest news
- 11 August 2025
- 18 June 2025
- 26 November 2024
- 6 February 2024
- 15 November 2023
- 15 June 2023
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Tthe surprising role of fat in memory formation
10 Years, 10 Reasons: Professor Fred Meunier