Frédérique FAVIER

After a PhD in protein crystallography in Strasbourg in the laboratory of D. Moras, I was recruited in 1995 as an assistant professor at the University of Nancy, now University of Lorraine, France. I carry out my research work in the BioMod team at the CRM2 (UMR CNRS-UL 7036). I am currently involved in two main research projects. - The first one concerns glutathione transferases. Although the first structures were established about thirty years ago, the diversity of these proteins throughout living organisms reveals roles that are complex and still poorly known, particularly in plants and fungi. In collaboration with the team of Pr. E. Gelhaye (IAM laboratory, Nancy), we have more than 10 years of experience in the analysis of the structure of these proteins, especially in complex with specialized metabolites, in relation with their function. - My second research area concerns horizontal gene transfer via integrative and conjugative elements (ICE) in Streptococcus thermophilus, a Gram-positive bacterium. We analyze the structures of proteins involved in the early stage of conjugation and in the transfer through the type IV secretion system, in collaboration with Drs N. Soler and B. Douzi in the ICE-TeA team led by Pr. N. Leblond-Bourget (DynAMic laboratory in Nancy) who are long-time specialists in the field. - Previously, I worked for a long time on methionine sulfoxide reductases, which are protective proteins against oxidative stress.