![Professor Frederic Meunier](/sites/default/files/profiles/1305.jpeg)
Overview
Background
Professor Frederic Meunier obtained his Masters degree in Neurophysiology at the Paris XI University, France in 1992 and completed his Ph.D in Neurobiology at the CNRS in Gif-sur-Yvette, France in 1996. He was the recipient of a European Biotechnology Fellowship and went on to postgraduate work at the Department of Biochemistry at Imperial College (1997-1999) and at Cancer Research UK (2000-2002) in London, UK. After a short sabbatical at the LMB-MRC in Cambridge (UK), he became a group leader at the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Queensland (Australia) in 2003. He joined the Queensland Brain Institute of the University of Queensland in 2007 and obtained an NHMRC senior research fellowship in 2009 renewed in 2014 with promotion. He became Professor in 2014 at the Queensland Brain Institute and is currently part of the Centre for Ageing Dementia Research.
Availability
- Professor Frederic Meunier is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Research interests
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Nanoscale organisation of the synapse
Use of single molecule imaging to track botulinum neurotoxin interaction with the neuronal membrane Use of single molecule imaging to uncover the change in presynaptic nanoscale organization occurring during neurotransmitter release (endocytosis) Use of single molecule imaging to uncover the change in presynaptic nanoscale organization occurring during neurotransmitter release (exocytosis)
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Track epigenetic modifications elicited by synaptic plasticity associated with memory
Understanding how memory is encoded in neurons require a deeper understanding of how pre- and post-synaptic plasticity affect the mesoscale organisation of our DNA via epigenetic modifications.
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PROJECT 3: Synaptic remodelling.
Neurotrophins are signalling molecules capable of inducing neurite outgrowth but it is not clear how they can affect the overall physiology of the neuron when the soma is located as far away as 1 metre from the site of uptake. Our strategy will be to establish a versatile and accessible in vitro model based on compartmentalised cultures (Campenot chambers) closely matching the reality of the neuromuscular system. The principle is to monitor and analyse neurite outgrowth and establishment of functional synapses with myocytes in communicant chambers. The binding, uptake, packaging of neurotrophic factors, their retrograde transport and eventual delivery will be investigated with a series of technical approaches ranging from classical binding studies to imaging of synaptic activity, time-lapse fluorescent video microscopy imaging of fluorescently-tagged factors and immunocytochemical approaches.
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Nanoscale initiation of neurodegenerative diseases
Use of single molecule imaging to uncover the change in Fyn and associated signalling cascade occurring during the development of Alzheimer’s disease Use of single molecule imaging to uncover the change in a-synuclein nanoscale organization in neurons associated with various disease-causing mutations
Research impacts
2017 Sneak peek at the nanoworld of our cells
2017 2 million help understand human brain
16/04/15 Botox makes unnerving journey our nervous system
04/03/15 Molecular casting net triggers hormone release
29/01/15 Squeezing cytoskeletal ring maintains hormonal release
08/10/14 Rare infant epilepsy under microscope
01/04/14 http://qbi.uq.edu.au/content/first-super-resolution-microscopes-queensland
14/03/14 http://qbi.uq.edu.au/content/hope-stroke-treatment-stop-damage
09/12/13 http://qbi.uq.edu.au/content/new-type-of-plasticity-neurosecretory-cells
Works
Search Professor Frederic Meunier’s works on UQ eSpace
2023
Journal Article
Tau forms synaptic nano-biomolecular condensates controlling the dynamic clustering of recycling synaptic vesicles
Longfield, Shanley F., Mollazade, Mahdie, Wallis, Tristan P., Gormal, Rachel S., Joensuu, Merja, Wark, Jesse R., van Waardenberg, Ashley J., Small, Christopher, Graham, Mark E., Meunier, Frédéric A. and Martínez-Mármol, Ramón (2023). Tau forms synaptic nano-biomolecular condensates controlling the dynamic clustering of recycling synaptic vesicles. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 7277, 1-20. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-43130-4
2023
Book Chapter
Functional roles of UNC-13/Munc13 and UNC-18/Munc18 in neurotransmission
Meunier, Frédéric A. and Hu, Zhitao (2023). Functional roles of UNC-13/Munc13 and UNC-18/Munc18 in neurotransmission. Advances in neurobiology. (pp. 203-231) edited by Zhao-Wen Wang. Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-34229-5_8
2023
Journal Article
SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral fusogens cause neuronal and glial fusion that compromises neuronal activity
Martínez-Mármol, Ramón, Giordano-Santini, Rosina, Kaulich, Eva, Cho, Ann-Na, Przybyla, Magdalena, Riyadh, Md Asrafuzzaman, Robinson, Emilija, Chew, Keng Yih, Amor, Rumelo, Meunier, Frédéric A., Balistreri, Giuseppe, Short, Kirsty R., Ke, Yazi D., Ittner, Lars M. and Hilliard, Massimo A. (2023). SARS-CoV-2 infection and viral fusogens cause neuronal and glial fusion that compromises neuronal activity. Science Advances, 9 (23) eadg2248, 1-15. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adg2248
2023
Journal Article
Super-resolved trajectory-derived nanoclustering analysis using spatiotemporal indexing
Wallis, Tristan P., Jiang, Anmin, Young, Kyle, Hou, Huiyi, Kudo, Kye, McCann, Alex J., Durisic, Nela, Joensuu, Merja, Oelz, Dietmar, Nguyen, Hien, Gormal, Rachel S. and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2023). Super-resolved trajectory-derived nanoclustering analysis using spatiotemporal indexing. Nature Communications, 14 (1) 3353, 1-16. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-38866-y
2023
Journal Article
Hericerin derivatives activates a pan‐neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1 /2 signaling enhancing spatial memory
Martínez‐Mármol, Ramón, Chai, YeJin, Conroy, Jacinta N., Khan, Zahra, Hong, Seong‐Min, Kim, Seon Beom, Gormal, Rachel S., Lee, Dae Hee, Lee, Jae Kang, Coulson, Elizabeth J., Lee, Mi Kyeong, Kim, Sun Yeou and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2023). Hericerin derivatives activates a pan‐neurotrophic pathway in central hippocampal neurons converging to ERK1 /2 signaling enhancing spatial memory. Journal of Neurochemistry, 165 (6), 791-808. doi: 10.1111/jnc.15767
2023
Journal Article
Tyrosine kinases compete for growth hormone receptor binding and regulate receptor mobility and degradation
Chhabra, Yash, Seiffert, Pernille, Gormal, Rachel S., Vullings, Manon, Lee, Christine Mei Mei, Wallis, Tristan P., Dehkhoda, Farhad, Indrakumar, Sowmya, Jacobsen, Nina L., Lindorff-Larsen, Kresten, Durisic, Nela, Waters, Michael J., Meunier, Frederic A., Kragelund, Birthe B. and Brooks, Andrew J. (2023). Tyrosine kinases compete for growth hormone receptor binding and regulate receptor mobility and degradation. Cell Reports, 42 (5) 112490, 112490. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112490
2023
Journal Article
Presynaptic targeting of botulinum neurotoxin type A requires a tripartite PSG‐Syt1 ‐ SV2 plasma membrane nanocluster for synaptic vesicle entry
Joensuu, Merja, Syed, Parnayan, Saber, Saber H., Lanoue, Vanessa, Wallis, Tristan P., Rae, James, Blum, Ailisa, Gormal, Rachel S., Small, Christopher, Sanders, Shanley, Jiang, Anmin, Mahrhold, Stefan, Krez, Nadja, Cousin, Michael A., Cooper‐White, Ruby, Cooper‐White, Justin J., Collins, Brett M., Parton, Robert G., Balistreri, Giuseppe, Rummel, Andreas and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2023). Presynaptic targeting of botulinum neurotoxin type A requires a tripartite PSG‐Syt1 ‐ SV2 plasma membrane nanocluster for synaptic vesicle entry. The EMBO Journal, 42 (13) e112095, e112095. doi: 10.15252/embj.2022112095
2023
Journal Article
EndophilinA-dependent coupling between activity-induced calcium influx and synaptic autophagy is disrupted by a Parkinson-risk mutation
Bademosi, Adekunle T., Decet, Marianna, Kuenen, Sabine, Calatayud, Carles, Swerts, Jef, Gallego, Sandra F., Schoovaerts, Nils, Karamanou, Spyridoula, Louros, Nikolaos, Martin, Ella, Sibarita, Jean-Baptiste, Vints, Katlijn, Gounko, Natalia V., Meunier, Frédéric A., Economou, Anastassios, Versées, Wim, Rousseau, Frederic, Schymkowitz, Joost, Soukup, Sandra-F. and Verstreken, Patrik (2023). EndophilinA-dependent coupling between activity-induced calcium influx and synaptic autophagy is disrupted by a Parkinson-risk mutation. Neuron, 111 (9), 1402-1422.e13. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.02.001
2023
Book Chapter
Lipids and Secretory Vesicle Exocytosis
Akefe, Isaac O., Osborne, Shona L., Matthews, Benjamin, Wallis, Tristan P. and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2023). Lipids and Secretory Vesicle Exocytosis. Advances in Neurobiology. (pp. 357-397) Cham, Switzerland: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-34229-5_14
2023
Other Outputs
BoNT/A binding and endocytosis in primary neurons
Joensuu, Merja and Meunier, Frederic (2023). BoNT/A binding and endocytosis in primary neurons. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/06039ff
2023
Other Outputs
Longield et al_2023_NatComm_Raw
Gormal, Rachel, Meunier, Frederic, Martinez-Marmol, Ramon, Mollazade, Mahdie, Wallis, Tristan, Joensuu, Merja, Sanders, Shanley and Small, Christopher (2023). Longield et al_2023_NatComm_Raw. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/a9c9def
2022
Journal Article
Gut microbial DNA and immune checkpoint gene Vsig4/CRIg are key antagonistic players in healthy aging and age-associated development of hypertension and diabetes
Liu, Matthew A., Shahabi, Shandy, Jati, Suborno, Tang, Kechun, Gao, Hong, Jin, Zhongmou, Miller, Wyatt, Meunier, Frédéric A., Ying, Wei, Bogaart, Geert van den, Ghosh, Gourisankar and Mahata, Sushil K. (2022). Gut microbial DNA and immune checkpoint gene Vsig4/CRIg are key antagonistic players in healthy aging and age-associated development of hypertension and diabetes. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 13 1037465, 1-18. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1037465
2022
Journal Article
Fyn nanoclustering requires switching to an open conformation and is enhanced by FTLD-Tau biomolecular condensates
Martínez-Mármol, Ramón, Small, Christopher, Jiang, Anmin, Palliyaguru, Tishila, Wallis, Tristan P., Gormal, Rachel S., Sibarita, Jean-Baptiste, Götz, Jürgen and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2022). Fyn nanoclustering requires switching to an open conformation and is enhanced by FTLD-Tau biomolecular condensates. Molecular Psychiatry, 28 (2), 946-862. doi: 10.1038/s41380-022-01825-y
2022
Book Chapter
Unveiling the nanoscale dynamics of the exocytic machinery in chromaffin cells with single-molecule imaging
Bademosi, Adekunle T. and Meunier, Frédéric A (2022). Unveiling the nanoscale dynamics of the exocytic machinery in chromaffin cells with single-molecule imaging. Chromaffin Cells. (pp. 311-327) edited by Ricardo Borges. New York, NY USA: Humana New York. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2671-9_21
2022
Journal Article
Ancestral SARS-CoV-2, but not Omicron, replicates less efficiently in primary pediatric nasal epithelial cells
Zhu, Yanshan, Chew, Keng Yih, Wu, Melanie, Karawita, Anjana C., McCallum, Georgina, Steele, Lauren E., Yamamoto, Ayaho, Labzin, Larisa I., Yarlagadda, Tejasri, Khromykh, Alexander A., Wang, Xiaohui, Sng, Julian D. J., Stocks, Claudia J., Xia, Yao, Kollmann, Tobias R., Martino, David, Joensuu, Merja, Meunier, Frédéric A., Balistreri, Giuseppe, Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Bowen, Asha C., Kicic, Anthony, Sly, Peter D., Spann, Kirsten M. and Short, Kirsty R. (2022). Ancestral SARS-CoV-2, but not Omicron, replicates less efficiently in primary pediatric nasal epithelial cells. PLoS Biology, 20 (8) e3001728, 1-19. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001728
2022
Journal Article
Nanoscale organization of the pre-synapse: tracking the neurotransmitter release machinery
Gormal, Rachel S. and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2022). Nanoscale organization of the pre-synapse: tracking the neurotransmitter release machinery. Current Opinion in Neurobiology, 75 102576, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102576
2022
Journal Article
Spatial redistribution of neurosecretory vesicles upon stimulation accelerates their directed transport to the plasma membrane
Schenk, Elaine B., Meunier, Frederic A. and Oelz, Dietmar B. (2022). Spatial redistribution of neurosecretory vesicles upon stimulation accelerates their directed transport to the plasma membrane. PLoS One, 17 (3) e0264521, e0264521. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264521
2022
Journal Article
Non-β-blocker enantiomers of propranolol and atenolol inhibit vasculogenesis in infantile hemangioma
Seebauer, Caroline T., Graus, Matthew S., Huang, Lan, McCann, Alex J., Wylie-Sears, Jill, Fontaine, Frank R., Karnezis, Tara, Zurakowski, David, Staffa, Steven J., Meunier, Frédéric A., Mulliken, John B., Bischoff, Joyce and Francois, Mathias (2022). Non-β-blocker enantiomers of propranolol and atenolol inhibit vasculogenesis in infantile hemangioma. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 132 (3) e151109. doi: 10.1172/jci151109
2022
Other Outputs
Syt1-SV2A nanoclustering during SV recycling
Gormal, Rachel, Meunier, Frederic, Small, Christopher, Yak, Nyakuoy, McCann, Alex and Jiang, Anmin (2022). Syt1-SV2A nanoclustering during SV recycling. The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/179a9a8
2022
Book Chapter
Live-cell superresolution imaging of retrograde axonal trafficking using pulse–chase labeling in cultured hippocampal neurons
Wang, Tong and Meunier, Frédéric A. (2022). Live-cell superresolution imaging of retrograde axonal trafficking using pulse–chase labeling in cultured hippocampal neurons. Membrane trafficking: methods and protocols. (pp. 101-128) edited by Jingshi Shen. New York, NY, United States: Humana/Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2209-4_9
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Frederic Meunier is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Tracking the dynamics of transsynaptic nanocolumns during synaptic transmission and plasticity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sean Millard, Dr Adekunle Bademosi
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Doctor Philosophy
The Nanoscale Characterisation of Synaptic Vesicle Pools
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ramon Martinez-Marmol
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Doctor Philosophy
Role of FFAs in SARS-CoV-2 neuronal infection
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tristan Wallis
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the role of myristic acid in memory and learning
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tristan Wallis
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Doctor Philosophy
Dynamic nanoscale organisation of trans-synaptic nanocolumns
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rachel Gormal, Dr Adekunle Bademosi
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Doctor Philosophy
The role of saturated free fatty acids in cognitive retention during ageing
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tristan Wallis
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Nanoscale organisation and impact of transmitted alpha-synuclein on neuronal trafficking in health and disease
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Adekunle Bademosi
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Characterization and role of lateral trapping and nanocluster organization of the endocytic machinery
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Merja Joensuu
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Identifying Key Changes in Brain Free Fatty Acids Associated with Memory in Health, Ageing and Disease: A Mechanistic Study
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tristan Wallis, Dr Merja Joensuu
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Profiling Changes in Phospholipids and Phospholipid Metabolites during Memory Acquisition. Mechanism of Action.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tristan Wallis
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Dynamic nanoclustering of synaptic proteins in health and disease: an examination of pre- and post-synaptic protein mobility in cell-to-cell communication
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ramon Martinez-Marmol
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Dynamic re-organisation of Munc18-1 and syntaxin-1A nanodomains on the plasma membrane of neurosecretory cells during exocytosis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Dynamic Reorganization of Presynaptic Proteins During Neurotransmission and Neuronal Degeneration
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Brett Collins, Professor Jürgen Götz
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2018
Doctor Philosophy
Control of neurotransmission by diffusional properties of a presynaptic plasma membrane protein - syntaxin1A
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bruno van Swinderen
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Unravelling Changes In Lipid Composition In Stimulated Neurons And Neurosecretory Cells By Quantitative Lipid Profiling
Principal Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Role of myosin VI in neuroexocytosis
Principal Advisor
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
The regulation of membrane trafficking pathways at the presynaptic nerve terminal
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Coulson
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Role of Munc18-1 in regulating neuroexocytosis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Coulson, Professor Brett Collins
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
Role and regulation of 3-phosphorylated phosphoinositides in neuroexocytosis
Principal Advisor
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the role of circular RNA in fear-related learning and memory
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Timothy Bredy
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Molecular Basis of Transcription Factor Search Patterns: In Development and Disease
Associate Advisor
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
The Role of Neogenin and RGMa in Dendritic Spine Morphogenesis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Helen Cooper
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2018
Master Philosophy
Developing novel approaches toward spatiotemporally-controlled capture of nascent RNA in neurons
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Timothy Bredy
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
The molecular mechanism of the Tau-Fyn interaction and dendritic targeting in neurons
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jürgen Götz
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The role of Neogenin in epithelial morphogenesis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Helen Cooper
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Frederic Meunier directly for media enquiries about:
- Brain cells
- Cell biology
- Electrophysiology
- Endocytosis
- In-vivo imaging of synaptic activity
- Nerves in the brain
- Neuroscience
- Neurotoxin
- Synaptic activity - brain
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