You are here: / / Alenka ČOPIČ

Our Research

An eukaryotic cell is composed of thousands of different lipid species, which fulfill essential functions, serving as membrane building blocks, signaling molecules and reservoirs of energy. Following their synthesis, lipids need to be sorted to the correct cellular compartment. In our lab, we study how lipids are transferred between compartments via lipid transfer proteins, and how they are stored in lipid droplets. For this, we use different model systems, from the unicellular budding yeast and cultured cell lines to artificial reconstituted systems of proteins and lipids. We combine a variety of approaches (bioinformatics, molecular biology, biochemistry, fluorescent microscopy and biophysical methods) to dissect molecular details of these fundamental cellular processes.

  1. Lipid transfer often occurs within membrane contact sites, which are regions of close apposition between organelles. We are particularly interested in the homeostasis of phosphatidylserine, which is synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum, but is highly enriched in the cytosolic leaflet of the plasma membrane. We study how the yeast PS transfer protein Osh6 cooperates with an ER-PM tether Ist2 to deliver PS to the plasma membrane.
  2. Lipid droplets are ubiquitous cellular organelles with a highly variable size that depends on cell type, reaching more than 100 micrometers in mature adipocytes. We study a family of abundant LD proteins, the perilipins, which interact with LDs using amphipathic helices. We are interested in how perilipins contribute to the maintenance of LD size and stability, in particular in adipocytes.

Lab picnic, July 2024. From left to right: Alenka, Cyril Moulin, Céline, Bastien Brignola, Camille Syska, Ivan Fayol, Nicolas Fuggetta, Bayane Sabbagh, Sylvie Rouquier (collaboratrice)
Lab outing-Acrobranche, July 2023. From left to right: Nicolas Fuggetta, Alenka, Céline, guest, Charbel Choufani,  Bayane Sabbagh, Eva Sorokotiaga, Coralie Molina, Karolina Belingar.
Lab photo, Feb 2022. From left to right: Tinkara Perme, Charbel Choufani, Meryem Rezzik, Bayane Sabbagh, Céline Franckhauser, Maxime Bello, Alenka Čopič, Rokhaya Faye
Lab photo, April 2021. From left to right: Juan-Martin D’Ambrosio, Alenka Čopič, Nicolas-Frédéric Lipp
  • ANR “PlinAmylo” (2024-2028)
    Coordinator: Alenka Copic
    Partners: Luc Bousset (LMN, CNRS); Veronique Albanèse (IJM, CNRS); Albert Tsai (CRBM, CNRS)
  • AFM-Téléthon “AmyloMyo” (2024-2026)
    Coordinator: Alenka Copic
    Alessandra Ruggieri (Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milano); Andrey Kajava (CRBM, CNRS); Luc Bousset (LMN, CNRS)
  • ANR “PIPELINE” (2023-2027)
    Coordinator: Guillaume Drin, IPMC CNRS
    Partners: Alenka Copic;  J-M Brunel, MCT AMU
  • ANR “MixAndMove” (2021-2025)
    Coordinator: Alenka Copic
    Partners: Guillaume Lenoir (I2BC, U. Paris-Saclay);  Guillaume Drin (IPMC, CNRS); Luca Monticelli (IBCP, INSERM)
  • 9/2020 – 8/2027 ERC Synergy “Spheres” (2020-2027)
    PI’s: D. Langin, U. Toulouse; M. Ryden, Karolinska Inst.; B. Antonny, IPMC, CNRS)
    Independent partner: Alenka Copic

2024

  • Surface tension-driven sorting of human perilipins on lipid droplets. Dias Araújo AR, Bello AA, Bigay J, Franckhauser C, Gautier R, Cazareth J, Kovács D, Brau F, Fuggetta N, Čopič A, Antonny B. J Cell Biol. 2024 Dec 2;223(12):e202403064. Pubmed
  • Established and emerging players in phospholipid scrambling: A structural perspective. Sebinelli HG*, Syska C*, Čopič A, and Lenoir G. Biochimie 2024. in press (review article)
  • Molecular mechanisms of perilipin protein function in lipid droplet metabolism. Griseti E, Bello AA, Bieth E, Sabbagh B, Iacovoni JS, Bigay J, Laurell H, Čopič A. FEBS Lett. 2024;598(10):1170-1198. (review article). Pubmed

2023

  • Phosphatidylserine transport in cell life and death. Čopič A, Dieudonné T, Lenoir G.  Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2023 Aug;83:102192.. Pubmed

2021

  • Transport Pathways That Contribute to the Cellular Distribution of Phosphatidylserine. Lenoir G, D’Ambrosio JM, Dieudonné T, Čopič A.. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Sep 1;9:737907. Pubmed
  • A comprehensive library of fluorescent constructs of SARS-CoV-2 proteins and their initial characterization in different cell types. Miserey-Lenkei S, Trajkovic K, D’Ambrosio JM, Patel AJ, Čopič A, Mathur P, Schauer K, Goud B, Albanèse V, Gautier R, Subra M, Kovacs D, Barelli H, Antonny B. Biol Cell. 2021 Jul;113(7):311-328. Pubmed
  • Exceptional stability of a perilipin on lipid droplets depends on its polar residues, suggesting multimeric assembly. Giménez-Andrés M, Emeršič T, Antoine-Bally S, D’Ambrosio JM, Antonny B, Derganc J, Čopič A. Elife. 2021 Apr 15;10:e61401.. Pubmed

2020

  • Osh6 requires Ist2 for localization to ER-PM contacts and efficient phosphatidylserine transport in budding yeast. D’Ambrosio JM, Albanèse V, Lipp NF, Fleuriot L, Debayle D, Drin G, Čopič A. J Cell Sci. 2020 Jun 4;133(11):jcs243733. Pubmed

2018

  • A giant amphipathic helix from a perilipin that is adapted for coating lipid droplets. Čopič A, Antoine-Bally S, Giménez-Andrés M, La Torre Garay C, Antonny B, Manni MM, Pagnotta S, Guihot J, Jackson CL. Nat Commun. 2018 Apr 6;9(1):1332. Pubmed
  • The Many Faces of Amphipathic Helices. Giménez-Andrés M, Čopič A, Antonny B. Biomolecules. 2018 Jul 5;8(3):45. Pubmed

2016

  • Membrane bending by protein crowding is affected by protein lateral confinement. Derganc J, Čopič A. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2016 Jun;1858(6):1152-9. Pubmed

2015

  • Phosphatidylserine transport by ORP/Osh proteins is driven by phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate. Moser von Filseck J, Čopič A, Delfosse V, Vanni S, Jackson CL, Bourguet W, Drin G. Science. 2015 Jul 24;349(6246):432-6. Pubmed

Cell biology of lipid storage and transfer


Alenka ČOPIČ

Group leader (Research Director DR2 CNRS)

Team Members

  • Sylvie ROUQUIER
    (Chercheur DR2) +33 (0)4 34 35 95 26
    		•
  • Alenka COPIC Chef d'équipe
    (Chercheur DR2) +33 (0)4 34 35 95 27
    		•
  • Celine FRANCKHAUSER
    (IE-Recherche) +33 (0)4 34 35 95 27
    		•
  • Bayane SABBAGH
    (Doctorant) +33 (0)4 34 35 95 26
    		•
  • Nicolas FUGGETTA
    (IE-Recherche) +33 (0)4 34 35 95 26
    		•
  • Camille SYSKA
    (Chercheur) +33 (0)4 34 35 95 26
    		•
  • Cyril MOULIN
    (Chercheur) +33 (0)4 34 35 95 26
    		•
  • Lena CAUSSE
    (Stagiaire) +33 (0)4 34 35 95 26
    		•
  • Enzo ROTY
    (Stagiaire) +33 (0)4 34 35 95 27
    		•

    Contact us

    Replace the name and address above with that of the member to contact
    firtsname.name@crbm.cnrs.fr

    European Research Council (ERC) grant – European Academy         

    OUR PUBLICATIONS

    Surface tension-driven sorting of human perilipins on lipid droplets.

    Dias Araújo AR, Bello AA, Bigay J, Franckhauser C, Gautier R, Cazareth J, Kovács D, Brau F, Fuggetta N, Čopič A, Antonny B.

    J Cell Biol. 2024 Dec 2;223(12):e202403064

    Pubmed

    Exceptional stability of a perilipin on lipid droplets depends on its polar residues, suggesting multimeric assembly.

    Giménez-Andrés M, Emeršič T, Antoine-Bally S, D’Ambrosio JM, Antonny B, Derganc J, Čopič A.

    Elife. 2021 Apr 15;10:e61401.

    Pubmed

    A giant amphipathic helix from a perilipin that is adapted for coating lipid droplets.

    Čopič A, Antoine-Bally S, Giménez-Andrés M, La Torre Garay C, Antonny B, Manni MM, Pagnotta S, Guihot J, Jackson CL.

    Nat Commun. 2018 Apr 6;9(1):1332.

    Pubmed

    All publications

    CNRS – CRBM – UMR5237
    1919, route de Mende
    34293 – Montpellier Cedex 05
    FRANCE
    Téléphone : +33 4 34 35 94 00
    FAX : +33 4 34 35 94 10