Lectures – Laboratory of Experimental Hypertension, IPHYS
2025-03-24 15:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Prague) | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
Silvie Hojná: Anorexigenic neuropeptides in the treatment of obesity
Obesity and its complications have reached epidemic proportions. Therefore, finding new, more effective drugs for the treatment of obesity without side effects is a major challenge. Natural anorexigenic neuropeptides have this potential, but their major disadvantage is their low stability in plasma and inability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) after peripheral administration. One strategy to develop peptidic drugs is based on peptide lipidization. This modification leads to increased stability and half-life of the peptide in the organism and allows its application in the periphery because lipidized peptides are able to cross the BBB. In Monday’s seminar, you will hear the full story of the development of anorexigenic analogs of prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP), including their implications not only for the treatment of obesity, but also for their other potential applications.
Mahak Arora: Role of mTOR in cardiometabolic dysfunction
Cardiometabolic disorders (CMDs) such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity are associated with damage to key organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, which is critical for cell metabolism and growth, is often dysregulated in these diseases. In a mouse model of steatohepatitis, the mTOR inhibitor KU-0063794 ameliorated oxidative stress, reduced liver triglycerides and downregulated TNF-alpha mRNA by altering mTOR signaling. Recent pilot studies in high-fat fed SHR rats treated with empagliflozin and salt-sensitive Dahl rats exposed to high or low salt diet showed significant changes in mTOR-related genes such as mtor, akt, pgc1a, srebp, etc. in liver and kidney. These results suggest that mTOR plays a key role in the regulation of cardiometabolic functions

Přednáška pro nevědce a nevědkyně - V. Hořejší
2025-03-24 14:00 - 15:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Poučení z covidové epidemie – co dělat příště jinak
Covidová krize v letech 2020-2022 výrazně zasáhla do životů nás všech. Co se udělalo dobře a co naopak špatně? Jak obstáli občané, politici, vědci a zdravotníci? Jak je možné, že se americkým ministrem zdravotnictví stává výrazný antivaxer a šiřitel „fejků“? Pochází covidový virus z přírody nebo z laboratoře? Pomohou nám získané zkušenosti při příští epidemii, která jistě někdy přijde?
Zajímavých otázek je mnoho…

Seminář Jakub Sumbal
2025-03-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Probing the functional heterogeneity and hierarchy in mammary gland fibroblasts”
In this talk, I will focus on the heterogeneity and hierarchy of mouse mammary fibroblasts – the predominant cell type of mammary stroma. By single cell RNA sequencing, genetic lineage tracing and microscopy we show that fibroblast transcriptomic clusters represent spatially differentiated populations with specific functions. Moreover, we used the lineage tracing to show differentiation traits within fibroblast populations and other stromal cell types. Finally, I will discuss how the regulation of fibroblast differentiation may be important for proper organ morphogenesis and cancer progression.

Seminář Jakub Onhajzer, M.Sc.
2025-03-12 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Reactivation of oncofetal genes reveals cellular heterogeneity and zonation in intestinal tumors”
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies. Recent studies have shown that tumor cells can reactivate so-called oncofetal genes — genes normally expressed during embryonic development but silenced in healthy adult intestinal tissue. These include Trop2 and Sca1, both of which are reactivated during the development and progression of intestinal tumors. Using a mouse model, we investigated the timing and molecular mechanisms driving the reactivation of these genes during the transformation of intestinal epithelial cells into tumor cells. By combining flow cytometry, 3D microscopy, and transcriptional profiling, we demonstrate that the re-expression of oncofetal genes is not uniform. Instead, it creates spatial heterogeneity — a phenomenon known as tumor zonation. This zonation is associated with the activation of fetal gene programs and the acquisition of stem cell-like properties. We also show that Sca1– and/or Trop2-positive tumor cells activate distinct molecular pathways and display unique biological properties. As several oncofetal genes (antigens) are already being explored as potential therapeutic targets, understanding the mechanisms underlying their reactivation could contribute to the development of new targeted therapies for colorectal cancer.

Seminář Andrea Pauli
2025-03-05 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Fundamental principles during the egg-to-embryo transition”
Fertilization initiates the egg-to-embryo transition, one of the most dramatic developmental transition resulting in the transformation of the egg from a dormant state into regulatorily and functionally distinct embryonic cells. While this transition has been studied extensively in respect to zygotic genome activation, the molecular mechanisms that mediate sperm-egg binding and fusion during fertilization and regulate the maintenance of dormancy in the egg and re-activation in the embryo remain poorly understood. The vision of the Pauli lab is to gain mechanistic insights into the egg-to-embryo transition, with a specific focus on the molecular control of fertilization and developmentally programmed dormancy and re-activation.
Andrea (Andi) Pauli will talk about recent findings from her lab related to their work towards uncovering the mechanism of vertebrate fertilization and translational regulation during the egg-to-embryo transition. By combining genetic, molecular, cellular, biochemical, structural and genomics approaches in their main model organism, the zebrafish, the long-term vision of the Pauli lab is to unravel new concepts and molecular mechanisms governing this fascinating developmental transition that marks the beginning of life.

Seminář Iris Durić
2025-02-26 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Transmembrane adaptor protein WBP1L: searching for its binding partners to understand its role in hematopoiesis”
Transmembrane adaptor protein WBP1L, also known as Outcome Predictor of Acute Leukemia 1 (OPAL1) was identified nearly 20 years ago as a positive prognostic marker in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. More recently, elevated WBP1L expression has also been linked to positive outcomes in ovarian cancer. Despite these clinical associations, the physiological function of WBP1L has long remained unclear. Recently we demonstrated its involvement in the regulation of hematopoiesis, hematopoietic stem cell functionality and hematopoietic stem cell performance during transplantation. As an adaptor protein, WBP1L’s activity depends on its interacting partners. This presentation will describe our efforts to identify these proteins and understand their contributions to WBP1L function, focusing on two novel interactions: one with the receptor for interferon gamma and the other with the SCFβ-TRCP1 ubiquitin ligase complex.

Seminář Jana Smolíková, Ph.D. - ZRUŠENO
2025-02-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Analysis of a novel chicken Pax6 mutant”
Pax6 is known as the „master control gene“ for eye formation, playing a crucial role in the development of the lens, retina, and other ocular structures. It drives the formation of the eye field, initiates lens differentiation, and helps establish the retina—all vital for vision.
While the role of Pax6 in eye development is well-studied in other species, there has been little research on Pax6 in chickens specifically. This gap in knowledge presents an exciting opportunity to understand how the mutation of Pax6 impacts eye formation in birds.
In this seminar we’ll explore the role of the Pax6 transcription factor in chicken eye development and this could provide valuable insights into vertebrate eye development.

Lecture „Sleep, synuclein and microbiome“
2025-02-17 15:00 - 16:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha

Seminář Ludovica Antiga, M.Sc.
2025-02-12 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“PIP2-RNA-protein interactions in phase separation of Pol II transcription”
The RNA Polymerase II transcription is a multifaceted process crucial for gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Over the last decade, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) was shown to be crucial in regulation of RNA pol II transcription. We have shown that nuclear phosphoinositides are pivotal for regulating biological processes and PIP2 has been shown to localize with RNA Pol II machinery and nascent RNA, linking it to the initiation step of transcription. Here, by using lipid-interacting RNA sequencing (LIPRNAseq) and confocal microscopy, we found a PIP2-binding AU-rich RNA motif and identified the long non-coding RNA HANR (lncHANR) in complex with PIP2 as a part of oncogenic super-enhancers in perinucleolar region of the nucleus.Furthermore, we used PIP2-pull down coupled with mass spectrometry to identify RNA-dependent PIP2 interactome associated with nuclear processes emphasizing the role of PIP2 in liquid-liquid phase separation of RNA Pol II transcription machinery.

Školení Genderová dimenze v obsahu výzkumu
2025-02-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Seminář povedou Eva Oliva a Gabriela Langhammerová z NKC – gender a věda.
Na semináři se dozvíte:
– jaké jsou požadavky evropských i domácích grantových agentur
– co je genderová dimenze a proč je důležité ji zohlednit
– jaká je souvislost s ins􀀃tucionální změnou a plány genderové rovnos􀀃
– v čem spočívají koncepty intersekcionality a inkluzivity
– a jak vše začlenit do obsahu výzkumu

Seminář - Prof. Cheng Zhu - "Mechanotransduction through immunoreceptors"
2025-02-06 14:00 - 15:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Dear colleagues,
I am delighted to invite you to a seminar by Prof. Cheng Zhu (Georgia Institute of Technology, USA) at the Institute of Molecular Genetics on February 6 at 14:00 (Hasek Lecture Hall). Prof. Zhu is a recognized leader and pioneer at the interface of immunology, structural biology, and mechanosensing with groundbreaking contributions that have advanced our understanding of how immune receptors work at the cell-cell contacts.
Invitation: https://www.img.cas.cz/files/2025/01/20250206_Cheng_Zhu.pdf
Publication profile: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_tPv2wEAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
With best regards,
Ondrej Stepanek

Seminář Lenka Ungrová, M.Sc.
2025-02-05 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Birds do it their way: avian interferon regulatory factors (almost) resolved”
Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) are transcription factors that play a key role in vertebrate innate antiviral immunity. IRF3 and IRF7 activate the expression of IFN-β, which in response induces the assembly of STAT1, STAT2 and IRF9 into the ISGF3 complex. Subsequently, this complex activates the expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) mounting the antiviral state of the cell. Interestingly, IRF9 and IRF3 have been reported to be missing in birds. As part of our efforts to search for hidden genes in avian genomes, we have identified IRF3 in paleognathous birds and IRF9 in most bird orders with the notable exception of the chicken. We focus on the experimental characterization of IRF9 in a duck cell line and also look for a possible substitute for IRF9 in chickens.

Seminář Mgr. et Mgr. Evžen Bouřa, Ph.D.
2025-01-29 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“RNA cap methylation in poxviruses and coronavirus – differences and similarities”
RNA methyltransferases (MTases) are responsible for synthesizing the 5′ RNA cap, which plays a crucial role in RNA stability and efficient translation. Over the past two years, both our research team and others have developed numerous inhibitors targeting coronaviral MTases. Through our efforts, we have successfully determined the crystal structures of these inhibitors bound to the coronaviral nsp14 and nsp16/nsp10 MTases. Additionally, we recently elucidated the crystal structure of the monkeypox virus MTase VP39, in complex with the broad-spectrum MTase inhibitor sinefungin and several other inhibitors. These structural studies have unveiled notable distinctions between coronaviral and poxviral MTases, while also highlighting the potential for targeting these enzymes with the same or closely related compounds.

Seminář Michal Mrkáček, M.Sc.
2025-01-22 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Tipping the Lipid Scales: Negative Feedback Regulation via ORMDLs Protein Degradation Ensures Sphingolipid Homeostasis”
Sphingolipids are essential lipid molecules that contribute to cellular structure and signaling. Their de novo synthesis is initiated in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and catalyzed by the multimeric serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) complex. The ER-resident ORMDL proteins are well-established regulators of sphingolipid synthesis, directly inhibiting the SPT complex to control the pathway at its origin. Here, we identify a negative feedback loop that fine-tunes this regulatory mechanism. Using pharmacological inhibitors such as myriocin and fumonisin B1, which target different steps of the sphingolipid pathway, we demonstrate that reduced sphingolipid levels promote enhanced degradation of ORMDL proteins. This degradation alleviates SPT inhibition, thereby accelerating de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis and restoring metabolic balance.

Lecture “Iron and bone: a (not so) unusual liaison? Unraveling the role of cell metabolism in osteoblasts during iron overload”
2025-01-20 15:00 - 16:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
Speaker: Martina Rauner, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany

Seminář Karolína Vaníčková, M.Sc.
2025-01-15 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Infections and hematopoietic stem cells: how do they communicate?”
Infections are primarily cleared by immune cells in our bodies. However, we observed that the most immature hematopoietic stem cells also contribute to this process. In this lecture, we will report on the mechanisms that activate an hematopoietic stem cell during infection and the cellular adaptations that these cells undertake. Special attention will be given to the contribution of the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.

Seminář Dr. Nicolas Rivron
2025-01-08 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Modeling human early pregnancy with stem cells”
The blastocyst is the early mammalian organism before implantation in the uterus. We have promoted the self-organization of stem cells into models of mouse and human blastocysts, which we have named blastoids (Nature 2018, Nature 2021). Blastoids are morphologically and transcriptionally similar to the blastocyst and contain analogs of all three cell types that would eventually develop into the complete organism (embryonic and extraembryonic). Because blastoids are complete and model the preimplantation stage, they can be introduced into the uterus (mouse model) or combined in vitro with uterine cells (human model) to recapitulate aspects of the normally hidden implantation processes. Unlike blastocysts, blastoids come in large numbers and facilitate a more systematic modulation and analysis of development. As such, they represent both a scientific and ethical alternative to the use of embryos for research. Using this approach, we are investigating the genome evolution underlying species-specific aspects of blastocyst development and implantation, with the long-term goal of understanding the evolutionary basis of human pregnancy characteristics (50% of fertilized eggs never develop). This knowledge could help solve the global health problems of family planning, fertility decline and prenatal preventive medicine.

Seminář Karolina Kowalska, M.Sc.
2024-12-18 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Structural basis of MICAL autoinhibition and activation”
In this talk, we will explore the role of MICAL proteins in cellular dynamics, focusing on their ability to disassemble actin filaments and their implications for processes like axon guidance, cytokinesis, and cell morphology. We will present our recent findings based on the cryoEM structure of human MICAL1, which reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying MICAL1 autoinhibition. Specifically, we will discuss how an intramolecular interaction between the N-terminal catalytic and C-terminal coiled-coil domains blocks F-actin interaction, and how structural changes and domain interactions mediate activation. These findings highlight evolutionarily conserved mechanisms within the MICAL family, shedding light on their broader functional relevance.

Lecture „Unlocking the secrets of the heart – toward an understanding of molecular sex differences in cardiac health and disease“
2024-12-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha
Lukáš Chmátal, Ph.D., Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, MIT, USA
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, but its effects are far from uniform. Men and women experience striking differences in symptoms, prevalence, and outcomes – yet the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences remain poorly understood. In this lecture, I will reveal how male and female hearts fundamentally differ in their energy metabolism, which is driven by mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouse. I will also outline innovative experimental approaches to uncover the role of sex chromosomes in regulating these differences – insights that will shape the research agenda of my own laboratory. Please, join me to explore how understanding these mechanisms could transform the way we approach cardiac health for both sexes.
More: https://fgu.cas.cz/udalost/lukas-chmatal-ph-d/

Seminář Nenad Radivojević, M.Sc.
2024-12-11 08:00 - 17:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Quality control in snRNP biogenesis”
Before being assembled into spliceosomes, small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles (snRNPs) undergo a complex and regulated maturation pathway. Cajal bodies (CBs) have been shown to monitor the final stage of this process by sequestering immature or misassembled particles through a yet unknown quality control mechanism. Here, we have identified coilin, a CB marker protein, as the quality control factor. We further characterize coilin domains interacting with snRNPs and elucidate the molecular mechanism how coilin recognize immature snRNPs.

IDP – Image Data Presentation
2024-12-10 - 2024-12-11 | IMG
The human eye is our primary tool for interpreting images, so scientific images should be adjusted with this perception in mind. However, display and print transfer characteristics often degrade images, making them differ from reality. This course offers a unique approach, focusing on preparing image data for presentation.
We’ll cover essential topics like gamma correction and print preparation to ensure your posters and figures appear as true-to-life as possible.
Day 1: Lectures with scientific colleagues and the opportunity to consult with top experts in advanced graphic displays (Antonin Charvat, EIZO) and professional photo preparation for print (Karel Pones, ITF).
Day 2: Hands-on practice with image processing software and figure-making techniques (Adobe CS and freeware alternatives).
You’re welcome to attend the lectures without registration, but registration is required for the practical sessions.
We look forward to seeing you!
The Organizing Team
Oldrich Benada, MBU & Ivan Novotny, IMG

19th BioCEV-Krč Methodological Seminar
2024-12-09 15:00 - 16:30 | Kinosal, Vídeňská 1083, Praha

Seminář Marie Zelená, M.Sc.
2024-12-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Every stick has two ends – Using high resolution imaging to characterize both ends of the eukaryotic flagellum”
The eukaryotic flagellum is important for cell motility. The microtubule-based axoneme generating the flagellar beating has been extensively studied. However, additional structures are associated with the proximal and distal end of the flagellum, with their composition and processes of their formation being poorly understood.
To gain an insigth into these structures we have studied them in the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, which is experimentally highly tractable. First, we focused on the flagellar pocket around the proximal end of the flagellum, which is the exclusive site for endocytosis and exocytosis of the parasite. Using expansion microscopy we were able to define discrete stages of the flagellar pocket division and formation of the flagellar pocket collar, which seals the pocket. Second, we took advantage of our knowledge of the flagellum distal-end proteome and combined it with expansion microscopy and cryo-electron tomography to characterize the enigmatic microtubule plugs at the distal end of the flagellum.
Our work elucidates aspects of the flagellar biology of an important parasite. Moreover, given the conserved nature of the organelle, our results have also implications for flagella across eukaryotes.

Live Cell Imaging Course 2024
2024-12-03 - 2024-12-05 | IMG
The course is very practically-oriented, theoretical lectures are followed by 6 hours of hands-on session every day in small groups. You will learn widefield, confocal, and advanced methods including super-resolution, photomanipulation, and FLIM. You will have a chance to work on high-end microscopes and compare wide variety of approaches and instrumentation.
For detailed program and overview of taught methods and microscopes please check course webpage: https://course.img.cas.cz/lci/
Looking forward to seeing you!
Jan Valečka and Helena Chmelová

Seminář Michaela Procházková, M.Sc.
2024-11-27 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“CRL4COP1 ubiquitination complex as a balancer of early odontogenesis”
Cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase (CRL) complexes have been heavily studied in connection to cancer progression but there is limited evidence about their physiological roles. One of the exceptions is disruption of limb development by thalidomide induced by inhibition of CRL4 complex via regulation of Fgf8 (Ito et al., 2010). Notably, Fgf8 expressing population is essential also for development of tooth primordia and we found CRL4 genes to be specifically expressed within odontognic epithelium. We further identified COP1 as a substrate binding protein which can bind ETS transcription factors, downstream targets of Fgf pathway, and unveiled that conditional deletion of CRL4 genes severly affects size and morphology of molar primordia and future teeth.

IEM CAS Introduction to Programming for Image Processing 2024
2024-11-27 08:00 - 2024-11-29 17:00
Due to reaching capacity for in-person participation, registration is now only available for online attendance. Thank you for your understanding.
Basic information
The course is tailored to users already familiar with the basics of image processing. It will be focused on automatization, high throughput and basic scripting. Course participants will learn how to create and edit macros in ImageJ and how to write more sophisticated scripts for batch processing. Furthermore, they will learn the basics of image processing in Matlab and Cellpose.
Duration: 3 days
Language: English
Programme
Location: Turquoise Auditorium
Speakers: Barbora Hyklová, Štěpán Kortus, Iva Švecová, Jakub Zahumenský
Day 1 / Wednesday / 27. 11. 2024

Introduction, macro recording and editing in ImageJ
Writing a complex macro for batch processing – automatic data import, cell segmentation, measurements, export in organized format

Day 2 / Thursday / 28. 11. 2024

Script automation, ImageJ customization
Cell segmentation using Cellpose and integration of Cellpose into the workflow
Demonstration of a complex ImageJ/Cellpose workflow

Day 3 / Friday / 29.11. 2024

Optional: Discussion of individual projects and data analysis questions.

Requirements
Prior Experience with ImageJ: Participants should have a basic familiarity with ImageJ and its fundamental features. They should be comfortable with tasks like image import, basic processing (e.g., brightness/contrast adjustments), and measurements.
Own laptop: Participants are required to bring their own laptop for hands-on exercises. If you do not have access to a laptop, please inform us in advance, and we will provide you with one. Prior to the event, you will receive a list of required software programs to install for the course.

Registration
Registration here: free of charge

IEM CAS - BIOCEV Regeneration IV
2024-11-26 10:00 - 17:30
We are pleased to announce the annual mini-symposium BIOCEV Regeneration IV, which will be held on November 26th, 2024, in BIOCEV Centre, Vestec.
BIOCEV Regeneration is an annual open one-day mini-symposium that brings together researchers from different fields of biomedicine, from regenerative medicine and tissue engineering to cancer research, drug discovery, and cryobiology.
This year, the BIOCEV Regeneration IV will focus on the exciting field of cryobiology and cryobanking and highlight its important role in state-of-the-art biomedical research. The mini-symposium is endorsed by the international Society for Low Temperature Biology (SLTB) and will bring together keynote speakers and young researchers from different biomedical disciplines, employing low temperatures in their research and development. This year we will focus on two major directions of cryobiology: cryotechnologies in clinically-oriented research (ATMP production, cell and tissue banking for therapy and diagnostics) and biodiversity preservation and regeneration.
The mini-symposium will be held in the main conference hall and surrounding spaces of the BIOCEV and broadcast online.
Along with several lectures given by our invited speakers, we encourage early career researchers to contribute to our symposium and share achievements in stem cell research, tissue engineering, 3D culture, cancer research or cryobiology during the poster session.
The event is free of charge. More information can be found in the official invitation.
We look forward to seeing you.

Registration

18th BioCEV-Krč Methodological Seminar
2024-11-25 15:00 - 16:00

Seminář Matthias G. Fischer
2024-11-21 11:00 - 12:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg
“Viruses of unicellular eukaryotes: A tale of giants and hyperparasites”
Viruses of protists play important roles in ecology and evolution by influencing microbial population dynamics and shaping eukaryotic genomes by endogenization. Of particular interest are complex DNA viruses whose particle and genome sizes overlap with those of bacteria. In this talk, I will highlight some remarkable properties of these giant viruses and explore their relationship with smaller DNA viruses, called virophages, which can parasitize giant viruses and thus act as an antiviral defense system in certain protist species.

Seminář doc. Mgr. Lumír Krejčí, Ph.D. - ZRUŠENO
2024-11-20 15:00 - 16:00 | Posluchárna Milana Haška / Milan Hašek Auditorium
“Homologous Recombination – From Repair of DSBs to Processing Stalled Replication Forks and Human Diseases”
Our lab focuses on the mechanisms ensuring accurate DNA replication and the role of homologous recombination (HR) in preventing genome instability. We investigate how endogenous hard-to-replicate regions, G-quadruplexes (G4) and R-loops, impact replication and contribute to disease development. A key aspect involves studying the formation and regulation of RAD51 filaments during HR. We explore how positive regulators like BRCA2 and RAD51 paralogs promote filament assembly and its stability, while negative regulators like RECQ5 and RECQ4 helicase help balance replication stress and genome stability.
