Jean-François Rupprecht

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

1. Group testing as a strategy for the epidemiologic monitoring of COVID-19
   V. Brault, B. Mallein, J.-F. Rupprecht
   arxiv (2020)
2. Cell junction mechanics beyond the bounds of adhesion and tension
   P.F. Lenne, J.-F. Rupprecht, V. Viasnoff
   Developmental Cell (2021)
3. 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.
4. 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)
5. Embryonic geometry underlies phenotypic variation in decanalized conditions
   A. Huang, J.-F. Rupprecht, and T. E. Saunders
   eLife, 9, e47380 (2020)
6. 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)
7. 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)
8. 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)
9. 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.
   
10. 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.
11. 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).
    
12. 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).
13. The escape problem for mortal walkers
    D. Grebenkov, J.-F. Rupprecht
    The Journal of Chemical Physics, 146, 084106 (2017) -- Arxiv version.
14. Perspective: A fresh eye on nonequilibrium systems
    J.-F. Rupprecht, J. Prost
    Science, 352, Issue 6285, p. 514 (2016) .
15. Optimal search by run-and-tumble particles
    J.-F. Rupprecht, O. Bénichou, R. Voituriez,
    Physical Review E, 94, 012117 (2016) -- Arxiv version.
16. 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.
17. 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).
    
18. 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.
19. 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)
20. 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.
21. 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).

Contact

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.