Seminář Takashi Akera, Ph.D.
2024-04-10 15:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Prague) | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“The impact of genetic cheating on mammalian reproduction and speciation”
Selfish DNA violate Mendel’s Law of Segregation by biased segregation to the egg cell. This genetic cheating, meiotic drive, is a widespread phenomenon across eukaryotes with associated fitness costs such as fertility issues. I will discuss our recent work on the cell biological mechanism of meiotic drive and how it can impact mammalian reproduction and speciation.

Lecture "Cancer metabolism"
2024-04-08 15:00 - 16:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
RNDr. Katarína Smolková, Ph.D., Laboratory of Mitochondrial Physiology, IPHYS

IEM CAS Institutional Seminar Series 04/2024
2024-04-04 14:00 - 14:30
Maternal diet quality and health status of newborns
Lecturer: Mgr. Jitka Pavlíková, Ph.D. / Department of Toxicology a Molecular Epidemiology
Annotation: Persistent organic pollutants are compounds of mostly anthropogenic origin that persist in the environment for a long time, become part of food chains, and some of them accumulate in living organisms. These substances are being monitored for their adverse effects on organisms, and the use of some of them has already been banned or at least significantly restricted. In our study, we analyzed possible associations between the health status of newborns (birth weight, oxidative damage levels) and maternal diet. We obtained information about diet quantity and quality from the maternal diet records and determined the concentrations of 67 different persistent organic pollutants in the collected samples.
The seminar will take place on 4. 4. 2024 from 2 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS.
We look forward to your participation.

Seminář Jose Ordovas-Montanes, M.Sc., Ph.D.
2024-04-03 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Single-cell to tissue-scale memory of infection and inflammation”
The role of epithelial and stromal cells in driving inflammation, together with immune cells, is being increasingly appreciated. However, we currently lack tissue-scale frameworks to define and test how inflammation collectively impacts epithelial, stromal, and immune cells. This poses a fundamental challenge for understanding the cellular mechanisms that drive or sustain health and disease within, and across, barriers such as the skin, airway, and intestine. Our lab is addressing this challenge by quantifying and controlling how inflammation changes the ecology of barrier tissues. Our central hypothesis is that inflammation is distributed and stored in multiple cell types, with the capacity to form tissue-level collective cellular networks. Starting from our human single-cell RNA-sequencing data collected from infectious and inflammatory diseases, we are developing quantitative approaches to define how static cellular ecosystems are arranged in barrier tissues. These studies are informing time-series modeling of murine inflammatory models focused on Type 1, 2 and 17 inflammation to understand how the same pressure applied to epithelial, stromal, and immune cell subsets shifts functional states and interactions in distinct barrier tissues. We anticipate to identify the gradual inflammatory transitions which maintain essential tissue functionality and critical “tipping points” in tissue state that compromise barrier functions.

Seminář Veronika Zimolová, M.Sc.
2024-03-27 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) mutations: implications for blood diseases”
The project aims to elucidate the impact of the germline Jak2 R1063H variant on myeloproliferative disorders and its potential implication in myeloid malignancy predisposition. Utilizing a mouse model harboring the Jak2 R1063H mutation, we observed higher mortality rate, elevated D-dimer levels indicative of thrombotic events, and increased platelets counts. Furthermore, metabolic profiling revealed alterations in platelet bioenergetics and gene expression patterns associated with fatty acid metabolism. Additionally, we showed aberrations in hematopoietic stem cell functionality, manifesting as a skewed myeloid progenitor cell expansion and bone marrow remodeling. These findings collectively suggest that Jak2 R1063H variant represents risk factor in the pathogenesis of myeloid cell transformation.

IEM CAS μLectures Seminar Series: Cameras and Detectors
2024-03-26 13:00 - 14:00
μLectures is a new monthly seminar series designed to enhance researchers’ understanding of microscopy’s fundamental workings and principles. Each session, lasting 30 minutes, will focus on a specific concept or topic within microscopy. The practical information presented aims to deepen researchers’ comprehension of their microscopy experiments, giving them a better overview of the options available and enabling them to improve their experimental design and more effectively identify and resolve potential issues.
Annotation
The second session will focus on cameras and detectors. We will talk about the difference between cameras and detectors, and what parameters are important for which kind of experiments.

The seminar will take place on 26. 3. 2024 from 1 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS. It will also be possible to join online using this link (open in a new window).
Registration
Registration is not required, but we will be happy if you let us know (in person or at iva.svecova@iem.cas.cz) and if we have an idea of how many people are planning to come.
Lecturer
Štěpán Kortus, PhD.

Lecture "Hemodynamic mechanisms initiating salt-sensitive hypertension: Prevention options"
2024-03-25 15:00 - 16:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
Ing. Michal Pravenec, DrSc., Laboratory of Genetics of Model Diseases, IPHYS

Seminář Zuzana Outlá, M.Sc.
2024-03-20 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
„Targeting plectin-mediated cytoskeletal crosstalk in hepatocellular carcinoma“
Anotace: The study’s findings indicate that the elevation of plectin in tumor hepatocytes is associated with the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This progression can be inhibited through genetic or pharmacological targeting of plectin. The oncogenic and invasive potentials of HCC cells are attenuated through plectin ablation, suggesting that plectin contributes to HCC’s metastatic capacity. These results identify plectin as a potential therapeutic target in HCC.

Seminář Imtissal Krayem, Ph.D.
2024-03-13 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Transmembrane adaptor protein OPAL1 regulates leukocyte hematopoiesis and thymus development”
Expression of transmembrane adaptor protein Outcome predictor of acute leukemia 1 (OPAL1), has been linked to the ETV6-RUNX1 translocation and favorable prognosis in childhood leukemia. Our research also suggests that it has an important role in leukocyte development. We show that in mice with germline deletion of OPAL1, hematopoiesis is dysregulated early on, affecting mainly hematopoietic stem cells and early progenitors. Dysregulations in this compartment also contribute to more efficient engraftment of OPAL1-deficient cells following hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell transplantations. In addition, the thymi of OPAL1-deficient mice are enlarged, housing increased numbers of thymocytes across all subsets. This phenomenon may be attributed to the elevated generation of MPP4/LMPP progenitors in the bone marrow, which subsequently give rise to thymus-seeding progenitors. In summary, WBP1L emerges as a key player in leukocyte homeostasis, maintaining leukocyte numbers during steady-state conditions and after bone marrow transplantation.

IEM CAS Institutional Seminar Series 03/2024
2024-03-07 14:00 - 15:00
Subpopulations of NG2 glia in the adult mouse brain after focal cerebral ischemia.
Lecturer: Mgr. Tomáš Knotek / Department of Cellular Neurophysiology
Annotation: Glia expressing NG2 antigen are known predominantly as precursors of oligodendrocytes. However, their differentiation potential in tissue affected by ischemic injury has not yet been fully explored. To further our understanding of these cells, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing, immunohistochemical staining, RT-qPCR, and patch-clamp technique on NG2-expressing cells in healthy tissue and in tissue affected by focal cerebral ischemia (FCI). Single-cell RNA sequencing data revealed that NG2 glia form distinct subpopulations, some of which can be ascribed to the proliferation of NG2 glia and their progression in the oligodendrocyte lineage. However, we also observed previously described astrocyte-like NG2 glia that appeared both in healthy and ischemic tissue. Interestingly, this subpopulation also shared properties with neural progenitor cells. Expression of genes linked to neurogenesis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and changed at different time points after FCI. Of note, 28 days after the stroke, we observed NG2-expressing cells positive for NeuN. Together, these results provide new insight into the plasticity of NG2 glia following ischemic injury.
The seminar will take place on 7. 3. 2024 from 2 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS.
We look forward to your participation.

Seminář Simona Mikula Mršťáková, M.Sc.
2024-03-06 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Role of pax6 genes in the eye during embryonal development of medaka”
Pax6 is remarkably conserved across a wide range of species, from flies to humans, signifying its fundamental role in the regulatory network governing eye formation. In this presentation, we will delve into the functions of three pax6 genes – Pax6.1, Pax6.2, and Pax6.3 – and their specific contributions to eye development during the embryonic stages of the Japanese medaka fish (Oryzias latipes). We will explore how these genes orchestrate the complex process of eye formation, underscoring their importance in developmental biology and evolutionary studies.

Lecture "AMPA glutamate receptor signaling – auxiliary subunits and beyond"
2024-03-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
Dr. Ingo Greger, Neurobiology Division MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK

Seminář Prasoon Kumar Thakur, M.Sc.
2024-02-28 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Splicing in the world of marine diplonemids”
Recent surveys of marine biodiversity have revealed the abundance and diversity of planktonic diplonemids. By sequencing the genomes and transcriptomes of six marine diplonemids and performing comprehensive splice site analyses, we identified numerous non-canonical introns and mapped their common features, shedding light on the evolution of RNA splicing in these abundant unicellular organisms.

IEM CAS μLectures: Microscope objectives
2024-02-27 13:00 - 14:00
μLectures is a new, monthly seminar series designed to enhance researchers’ understanding of the fundamental workings and principles of microscopy. Each session, lasting 30 minutes, will focus on a specific concept or topic within microscopy. The practical information presented aims to deepen researchers’ comprehension of their microscopy experiments, giving them better overview of the options available and enabling them to improve their experimental design, and more effectively identify and resolve potential issues.
Annotation
The first session will focus on objectives. It will introduce different types of objectives and their relevant parameters, explore the interaction between immersion and medium/fixation methods, and discuss how objective selection can impact image quality.
The seminar will take place on 27. 2. 2024 from 1 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS. It will also be possible to join online using this link (opens in new window).
It will be held in English.
Registration
Registration is not required, but if you are interested, you can let us know (in person or on iva.svecova@iem.cas.cz) to give us an idea about how many people are planning to come.
Lecturer
Iva Švecová

Den fyziologie a medicíny pro vysokoškoláky
2024-02-22 09:30 - 15:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
Studujete vysokou školu přírodovědeckého nebo medicínského zaměření? Připravili jsme pro vás speciální den otevřených dveří s nabídkou zajímavých témat pro vaši bakalářskou či magisterskou práci i témata pro studium PhD. Vědci z FGÚ vás s nimi seznámí v dopoledním bloku (prezenční i online formou) a odpoledne budete mít možnost nahlédnout přímo do jejich laboratoří. Celý program je v angličtině.
Přihlašování a program: https://www.fgu.cas.cz/articles/1114-program-den-fyziologie-a-mediciny-pro-vysokoskolaky-2024

Seminář Ing. Eliška Gáliková
2024-02-21 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Knocking out spo11 in chicken arrests meiosis but does not prevent further development of germ cells”
Knockout of the mouse spo11 prevents double-strand breaks and formation of synaptonemal complex during meiosis. As a result, the development of spermatocytes is arrested at zygotene and the arrested cells undergo apoptosis. Not so in the chicken. Here, although we also observe arrest of meiosis and impaired fertility, diploid spermatocytes and oocytes continue to develop with interesting biological consequences.

Hodnocení výzkumu v Akademii věd ČR
2024-02-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Přednášející: prof. Ing. Jiří Homola, CSc., DSc.
Organizace přednášky byla projednána a schválena na schůzi Rady areálu dne 15.1.2024.
Vzhledem k projednávanému tématu a v návaznosti na administraci procesu hodnocení, se přednáška bude konat pouze v českém jazyce.

Lecture "Microtubule associated proteins and their regulation - between brain development and disease"
2024-02-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
Martin Balaštík, Ph.D., Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, IPHYS

Seminář Miroslav Stoyanov, M.Sc.
2024-02-14 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“PPM1D activity promotes genome instability and cellular transformation”
Protein phosphatase magnesium dependent 1 (PPM1D) is a negative regulator of the tumour suppressor p53 and is implicated in termination of DNA damage response. Increased PPM1D activity allows proliferation in the presence of DNA breaks caused by ionizing radiation or replication stress induced by expression of active RAS oncogene. Active PPM1D promotes cell growth in the soft agar and formation of tumours in nude mice confirming the oncogenic potential of PPM1D.

Seminář Dr. rer. nat. Leoš Shivaya Valášek, DSc.
2024-02-07 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Ribosomal A-site interactions with near-cognate tRNAs drive stop codon readthrough”
Imagine a gene is a sentence starting with a capital letter and ending with a period, and a genome as a book telling an entire story. In some protozoans, extra periods infiltrated their sentences, replacing specific letters of arbitrary words (namely E and W). As a r.sult, r.aders (ribosom.s) are confus.d about .here these sentenc.s really .nd, and the story b.comes disjoint.d. We described how these protozoans handled this mystery, shedding a new light on (non)universality of the genetic code.

IEM CAS Institutional Seminar Series 02/2024
2024-02-01 14:00 - 15:00
The role of miR-20a in the injured CNS
Lecturer: Mgr. Ivan Arzhanov / Department of Neuroregeneration
Annotation: Spinal cord injury (SCI) involves damage to any part of the spinal cord, leading to nervous cell death and disruption of conduction pathways. This damage results in the loss of motor and sensory function below the injury site, potentially causing paralysis and, in severe cases, complete paralysis. Following SCI, a myriad of genes undergo dysregulation, accompanied by alterations in the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs, small non-coding RNA molecules, play a pivotal regulatory role in various biological processes by interfering with mRNA. In our experiments, the expression of miR-20a was significantly upregulated for at least one week post-trauma. MiR-20a targets numerous genes, hindering the regenerative process of nervous tissue. However, inhibiting miR-20a decreases pro-apoptotic gene expression while facilitating the expression of anti-apoptotic genes, thereby diminishing neural cell death after injury. During this seminar, we will summarise the data regarding changes in mRNAs, miRNAs, and protein expression following SCI. Subsequently, we will specifically focus on miR-20a and its role in basic cellular processes following SCI.
The seminar will take place on 1. 2. 2024 from 2 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS.
We look forward to your participation.

Seminář Maria Kuzmina, M.Sc.
2024-01-31 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“HSCs in inflammation: go extramedullary or go home”
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are a rare cell type residing in the bone marrow and giving rise to all hematopoietic cells. Despite their quiescence, HSCs respond to extracellular signals which regulate their fate. In this presentation, we will determine how of chronic inflammation affects HSC location and function.

BioCEV-Krč Methodological Seminar
2024-01-29 15:00 - 16:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
Topic: Spatial metabolomics
Program: https://www.fgu.cas.cz/significant/event/495

Seminář Martin Estermann, Ph.D.
2024-01-24 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“The cell biology and molecular genetics of avian gonadal development”
I am interested in investigating the regulatory mechanisms governing sex differentiation in avian species, with a specific focus on utilizing the chicken as a model organism. In the course of my presentation, I will explore the cellular foundations and molecular components dictating the development of ovarian and testicular fate in avian species. Employing comparative approaches, I will scrutinize the distinctive attributes of the ZZ and ZW chromosome sex determination system, elucidating its role in cell-autonomous sex determination. Lastly, I will share my recent postdoctoral findings particularly the metabolic regulation of sex differentiation.

IEM CAS Institutional Seminar Series (replacement date from 10/2023)
2024-01-18 14:00 - 15:00
Lsp1 partially substitutes Pil1 function in eisosome assembly under stress conditions
Lecturer: Ing. Petra Veselá, Ph.D. / Department of Functional Organisation of Biomembranes
Annotation: Eisosomes are large hemitubular structures that underlie the invaginated microdomains in the plasma membrane of various organisms and take part in the cellular stress response. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, they are organised by BAR-domain containing proteins Pil1 and Lsp1. While under normal laboratory conditions, deletion of the PIL1 gene results in the inability of cells to assemble eisosomes, deletion of LSP1 shows no apparent phenotype. We show that under stress conditions, Lsp1 takes over the Pil1 function and forms eisosomes even in the absence of Pil1.
The seminar will take place on 18. 1. 2024 from 2 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS.
We look forward to your participation.

Seminář Viktor Bugajev, Ph.D.
2024-01-17 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“The novel sphingolipid synthesis regulators in cell life”
Sphingolipids are bioactive lipids and critical structural components of cell membranes. Regulation of their de novo synthesis is critical for normal mammalian development and physiology. Although the ORMDL family has been identified as the gatekeeper of the serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT) activity, our new data suggest that other components are also involved. We will present our results on new regulators of the SPT complex based on their interaction with members of the ORMDL family using genetic, immunogenetic and mass spectrometry approaches. Our data indicate that SPT regulatory circuits are more complex than previously thought.

IEM CAS Institutional Seminar Series 01/2024
2024-01-04 14:00 - 15:00
Improvement of healing of bone defects by new approaches of regenerative medicine
Lecturer: Mgr. Eva Šebová / Department of Tissue Engineering
Annotation: The PLA and PCL block copolymer combined with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles is a promising material for bone tissue engineering. We expect a high ability to seamlessly interact with bone cells and promote bone growth, which is at the core of our research. By exploring electrospun nanofibers, we aim to uncover the potential of copolymer with hydroxyapatite in new bone healing strategies, offering promising avenues for more effective and efficient bone regeneration therapies.
The seminar will take place on 4. 1. 2024 from 2 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS.
We look forward to your participation.

Seminář - Miles Joseph Raishbrook, M.Sc.
2023-12-20 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
„The impact of FAM84B in retinal homeostasis“
Fam84b is an incompletely characterised protein. Its aberrant expression has been associated with various human cancers, with a possible reported role in endosomal trafficking. We genetically ablated Fam84b expression in mice, and extensively characterised the subsequent age-related, degenerative phenotype in the retinas of knockout animals. The aim of the project is to explain how the lack of Fam84b unsettles retinal homeostasis and induces the presented phenotype.

Seminář - Valeria Buccheri, M.Sc.
2023-12-13 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Canonical RNAi in vivo in mice”
Canonical RNAi, i.e. long dsRNA-induced mRNA degradation, is essentially not operating in vivo in mammalian somatic cells. Low efficiency of dsRNA conversion into small interfering RNA by Dicer was identified as key limiting factor for canonical RNAi in mammals. We have genetically engineered mice to express a more active Dicer variant and investigated how this impacts mouse development and RNAi activity in vivo.

IEM CAS Institutional Seminar Series 12/2023
2023-12-07 14:00 - 15:00
Sensorineural hearing loss in mice lacking GABAB receptor-associated KCTD12 protein
Lecturer: Mgr. Adolf Melichar / Department of Auditory Neuroscience
Annotation: KCTD12 protein is the auxiliary subunit of the G-protein coupled receptor for γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA-B). KCTD12 constitutively binds to the intracellular portion of GABA-B receptor and significantly modulates its structural and functional properties. KCTD12/GABA-B complexes are characterized by high expression levels in the mammalian peripheral and central auditory system, suggesting their important role in auditory function. In this presentation, we summarize our results showing that deletion of the KCTD12 gene in mice leads to hearing loss and behavioral manifestations of hyperacusis and tinnitus.
The seminar will take place on 7. 12. 2023 from 2 p.m. in the Turquoise Auditorium of the IEM CAS.
We look forward to your participation.
