NAmur Research Institute for LIfe Sciences
Jean-Yves Matroule
Heavy metals and oxidative stress response
Deciphering the molecular mechanisms that are initiated by bacteria upon copper stress
Prof. Jean-Yves Matroule PhD
UNamur, Department of biology, Research Unit in Biology of Microorganisms (URBM)
Member of the Namur Research Pole in Infectiology (NaRePI)
Research portal UNamur | ResearchGate | LinkedIn | www.urbm.be/research-groups/jean-yves-matroule
Expertise and research interests
The research group led by Prof. Jean-Yves Matroule aims at deciphering the molecular mechanisms that are initiated upon Cu stress, which is frequently encountered by most bacteria. More precisely, they focus their attention on the Cu homeostasis systems and their potential relationship with bacterial lifestyles within the alpha-proteobacteria phylum, which encompasses the aquatic free-living Caulobacter crescentus, the animal pathogen Brucella sp, the plant symbiont Sinorhizobium meliloti and the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
Their current research interests concern the evolutionary aspects of Copper homeostasis within the alpha-proteobacteria group, as well as the adaptation mechanisms to copper stress in Caulobacter crescentus.
Group members
PhD students: Gil Josse (SCK-CEN), Hala Kasmo, Marine Ote, Timothej Patocka (SCK-CEN) and Chloé Piette
Research projects
- ONGOING Biosynthetic toolboxes for the extraction of radionuclides. Ongoing PhD thesis by Gil Josse. PhD thesis at SCK-CEN (Dr. Kristel Mijnendonckx and Dr. Rob Van Houdt) in collaboration with UNamur (Prof. Jean-Yves Matroule).
- ONGOING Understanding of the role of an inner membrane transporter involved in metal resistance and characterization of the crosstalk between copper and iron homeostasis in the bacterial model Caulobacter crescentus. Ongoing PhD thesis by Chloé Piette.
- ONGOING Deciphering spatiotemporal regulation of antibiotic/copper coresistance in C. crescentus. Ongoing PhD thesis by Marine Ote.
- ONGOING Copper-based materials as potential antimicrobials for spaceflight activities. Ongoing PhD thesis by Timothej Patocka. PhD thesis at SCK-CEN (Dr. Rob Van Houdt) in collaboration with UNamur (Prof. Jean-Yves Matroule).
- ONGOING Investigation of the bidirectional copper transport across the inner membrane of the free-living Caulobacter crescentus. Ongoing PhD thesis by Hala Kasmo.
- Phenotypic adaptation and regulatory response to copper stress in Cupriavidus metallidurans. PhD thesis defended by by Laurens Maertens on 25/10/2021. PhD thesis at SCK-CEN (Dr. Rob Van Houdt) in collaboration with UNamur (Prof. Jean-Yves Matroule).
- Characterization of the molecular mechanisms controlling negative chemotaxis to copper in Caulobacter crescentus. PhD thesis defended by Gwennaëlle Louis on 10/03/2021.
- Copper resistance in Caulobacter crescentus : Characterization of the Pco operon and of an ABC transporter permease. PhD thesis defended by Sébastien Gillet on 06/03/2019.
- Impact of DivK dimerization on Caulobacter crescentus cell cycle. PhD thesis defended by Lionel Schille on 29/01/2016.
- Role of the copper homeostasis in alpha-proteobacteria cell cycle. Postdoctoral research by Dr. Emeline Lawarée (Jan 2016 - Jun 2016).
- Study of bacterial stress response facing environmental changes. PhD thesis defended by Emeline Lawarée (2015).
Selected publications
Patocka T, Gupta S, Mastroleo F, Leys N, Matroule JY, Van Houdt R. Time-resolved proteomic profiling of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 in the copper-induced viable-but-nonculturable state. Metallomics. 2025 Mar 7;17(3):mfaf007.
Cherry P, Kasmo H, Godelaine M, Tilquin F, Dieu M, Renard P, Matroule J-Y. Role of a TonB-dependent receptor and an oxygenase in iron-dependent copper resistance in Caulobacter crescentus. J Bacteriol. 2025 Apr 17;207(4):e0049324.
Maertens L, Cherry P, Tilquin F, Van Houdt R, Matroule JY. Environmental Conditions Modulate the Transcriptomic Response of Both Caulobacter crescentus Morphotypes to Cu Stress. Microorganisms. 2021 May 21;9(6):1116.
Maertens L, Matroule JY, Van Houdt R. Characteristics of the copper-induced viable-but-non-culturable state in bacteria. World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2021 Feb 5;37(3):37.
Maertens L, Leys N, Matroule JY, Van Houdt R. The Transcriptomic Landscape of Cupriavidus metallidurans CH34 Acutely Exposed to Copper. Genes (Basel). 2020 Sep 4;11(9):E1049.
Maertens L, Coninx I, Claesen J, Leys N, Matroule JY, Van Houdt R. Copper Resistance Mediates Long-Term Survival of Cupriavidus metallidurans in Wet Contact With Metallic Copper. Front Microbiol. 2020 Jun 3;11:1208.
Lawarée E, Gillet S, Louis G, Tilquin F, Le Blastier S, Cambier P, Matroule JY. Caulobacter crescentus intrinsic dimorphism provides a prompt bimodal response to copper stress. Nat Microbiol. 2016 Jul 4;1(9):16098.
