Group Webpage
Click here for the Out-of-equilibrium Mechanics (OM) team webpage.
Short CV
I am currently a CNRS researcher at the
Centre Physique Théorique (Université Aix-Marseille, Luminy campus) and a
CENTURI (Turing Center for Living Systems) Group Leader.
01/2019 onwards - CNRS researcher at the Centre Physique Théorique (Université Aix-Marseille, Luminy campus).
09/2015 - Research fellow with J. Prost at the
Mechanobiology Institute (National University of Singapore).
2014-2015 - Post-doctoral research with L. Bocquet at LPS (Ecole Normale Supérieure, Paris).
2012-2014 - Graduate student with R. Voituriez and O. Bénichou
at the
LPTMC (Université
Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Paris).
2008-2012 - Elève at the Ecole Normale Supérieure (Paris).
Research
Tissue mechanics
- Apico-basal 3D cell rearrangements
During the Drosophila embryogenesis, the epithelial cellular arrangement can differ between the apical and basal side of the embryo;
some cells have intriguing 3D shapes. Our numerical description of tissues (3D vertex model) explains how such shapes can appear [see publication 11]
See also: MBI science feature.
- Mechanical pattern formation Fish slices show a V-pattern, why?
Active stresses, differential tissue-friction and tissue plasticity shapes the zebrafish myotome [see publication 15]
See also: MBI science feature.
Cell motility
- Universal law of cell migration
fast cells take more time to change direction than slow cells [see publication 5].
Our random walk model relies on a chemical inertia mechanism whereby the distribution of polarity markers is controlled by the speed of the actin retrograde flow.
See also: Le Monde feature.
- Magnetotactic bacteria
We propose a new run-and-tumble walk model that predicts a new type of phase transition to collective flow [see publication 6].
- Fluctuating active gel theory
We show that cortical stress fluctuations affect the position distribution of the cell nucleus and cell polarity [see publications 12-13].
See also: MBI science feature.
Molecular processes
- Molecular ratchet We proposed a new model on force generation by molecular motor assemblies [see publication 14].
Cells sense the rigidity of their environment through local pinching – just as you would do with your fingers when you want to test if something is soft or rough;
cells rely on myosin II motor assemblies – which contract over bundles of polymers called actin – to pinch their environment.
Our model explains the challenging observations drawn from highly resolved experiments on these myosin assemblies.
See also
Nature Physics News and View feature.
- Super-resolution imaging We developped algorithms optimizing image acquisition by stochastic optical microscopy [see publication 10].
- Theory of reactivity We identify search strategies minimizing the average time of first encounter between a reactant and a fixed catalytic site.
See also: A popular science overview of my PhD work (in French)
Participation in the MODCOV-19 initiative and GROUPOOL research association
Group Testing Modelling
Our objective is to propose models and careful estimates of the risks and benefits of group testing techniques -- a technique currently used in several institutes around the world which has potential to increase the COVID19 diagnostics capacity by a significant multiplying factor.
We apply our calculations in a surveillance context and the prevention of epidemic outbreaks of closed communities (nursing homes, universities).
See related pre-publication 20]
Publications list
- Group testing as a strategy for the epidemiologic monitoring of COVID-19
V. Brault, B. Mallein, J.-F. Rupprecht
arxiv (2020)
- Cell junction mechanics beyond the bounds of adhesion and tension
P.F. Lenne, J.-F. Rupprecht, V. Viasnoff
Developmental Cell (2021)
- Deterministic and stochastic rules of branching govern dendritic morphogenesis of sensory neurons
A. Palavalli, N. Tizón-Escamilla, J.-F. Rupprecht, T. Lecuit
Current Biology (2020)
[bioRxiv version] (2020)
See also press coverage in La Marseillaise journal.
- Adhesion-mediated heterogeneous actin organization governs apoptotic cell extrusion
A. P. Le, J.-F. Rupprecht, R.-M. Mège, Y. Toyama, C. T. Lim, B. Ladoux
Nature Communications (2020)
- Embryonic geometry underlies phenotypic variation in decanalized conditions
A. Huang, J.-F. Rupprecht, and T. E. Saunders
eLife, 9, e47380 (2020)
- Microtubule plus-end dynamics link wound repair to the innate immune response
C. Taffoni, S. Omi, C. Huber, S. Mailfert, M. Fallet, J.-F. Rupprecht, J. J. Ewbank, N. Pujol,
eLife (2020)
- Shaping the zebrafish myotome by intertissue friction and active stress
S. Tlili, J. Yin, J.-F. Rupprecht, M. A. Mendieta-Serranoa, G. Weissbart, N. Verma, X. Teng, Y. Toyama, J. Prost, T. E. Saunders
PNAS 116, 25430 (2019)
- Myosin filaments reversibly generate large forces in cells
J. Lohner (1), J.-F. Rupprecht (1), J. Hu, N. Mandriota, M. Saxena, J. Hone, D. Pitta de Araujo, O. Sahin, J. Prost, M. P. Sheetz
Nature Physics, 15, 689–695 (2019)
-
Maximal fluctuations of confined actomyosin gels: dynamics of the cell nucleus
J.-F. Rupprecht, A. Singh, G. V. Shivashankar, M. Rao, J. Prost
Physical Review Letters, 120, 098001 (2018)
Arxiv version.
-
Soft inclusion in a confined fluctuating active fluid
A. Singh, J.-F. Rupprecht, G. V. Shivashankar, J. Prost, M. Rao
Physical Review E, 97, 032602 (2018)
Arxiv version.
-
Geometric constraints alter cell arrangements within curved epithelial tissues
J.-F. Rupprecht, K. H. Ong, J. Yin, A. Huang, A. P Singh, S. Zhang, W. Yu, T. E Saunders
Molecular Biology of the Cell, mbc. E17-01-0060 (2017).
- Trade-offs between structural integrity and acquisition time in stochastic super-resolution microscopy techniques
J.-F. Rupprecht, A. Martinez-Marrades, Z. Zhang, R. Changede, P. Kanchanawong, G. Tessier
Optics Express, 25, Issue 19, 23146 (2017).
- The escape problem for mortal walkers
D. Grebenkov, J.-F. Rupprecht
The Journal of Chemical Physics, 146, 084106 (2017) -- Arxiv version.
-
Perspective: A fresh eye on nonequilibrium systems
J.-F. Rupprecht, J. Prost
Science, 352, Issue 6285, p. 514 (2016) .
-
Optimal search by run-and-tumble particles
J.-F. Rupprecht, O. Bénichou, R. Voituriez,
Physical Review E, 94, 012117 (2016) -- Arxiv version.
-
Velocity condensation of magnetotactic bacteria
J.-F. Rupprecht, N. Waisbord, C. Ybert, C. Cottin-Bizonne and L. Bocquet
Physical Review Letter 116, 168101 (2016) --- Arxiv version.
- Actin flows mediate a universal coupling between cell speed and persistence
P. Maiuri (1), J.-F. Rupprecht (1), S. Wieser (1),
V. Ruprecht, N. Carpi, M. Coppey, S. De Beco, O. Bénichou, N. Gov, C.P. Heisenberg, C. Large-Crespo, F. Lautenschlaeger,
M. Le Berre, A. M. Lennon-Dumenil, M. Raab, H.R. Thiam, M. Piel, M. Sixt, R. Voituriez,
Cell, 161, 2, pp 374 (2015).
- Exit time distribution in spherically symmetric two dimensional domains
J.-F. Rupprecht, O. Bénichou, D. S. Grebenkov, R. Voituriez
Journal of Statistical Physics 158, 1, pp 192 (2015) --- Arxiv version.
- Stochastic 3D field mapping using Brownian scatterers
A. Martinez-Marrades, J.-F. Rupprecht, M. Gross, G. Tessier
Optics Express, Vol. 22, 23, pp. 29191-29203 (2014)
- Kinetics of Active Surface-Mediated Diffusion in Spherically Symmetric Domains
J.-F. Rupprecht, O. Bénichou, D. S. Grebenkov, R. Voituriez
Journal of Statistical Physics 147,
pp 891 (2012) --- Arxiv version.
- Exact Mean Time for surface-mediated diffusion
J.-F. Rupprecht, O. Bénichou, D. S. Grebenkov, R. Voituriez
Physical Review E 86,
pp 041135 (2012) --- Arxiv version.
Opportunities
Join the OM! The Out-of-equilibrium Mechanics (OM) group in Marseille is hiring students.
We currently have a (1) CNRS post-doctoral contract opportunity as well as (2) internship and (3) Phd funding opportunities. See a PhD proposal on this page:
CENTURI PhD call.
In addition to joining a dynamic team composed of highly motivated people, please have in mind that the Luminy campus is arguably one the most beautiful campus in the world
(see some images here).
Email: rupprecht.jf (at) gmail.com
Address: Centre de Physique Théorique, Université Aix-Marseille, Campus de Luminy, 163 Avenue de Luminy, 13009 Marseille
Office: 5th floor, office 514
Phone: number in my email signature.