About usWe are a medium-sized laboratory consisting of nine scientists and a varying number of under- and post-graduate students. Our research is focused on the metabolic regulation of intracellular and extracellular cytokinin and auxin levels and the mechanisms regulating the uptake and secretion of these phytohormones.
Our studies embrace intact plants, plant cell suspensions and tissue cultures expressing specific genes involved in the metabolism, transport and signaling by cytokinins and auxins, including genes encoding isopentenyltransferase, cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase, zeatin-O-glucosyltransferase, auxin binding protein 1 and auxin influx and efflux carriers.
Attention is also paid to development of new methods for analysis of phytohormones (auxins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, and ethylene precursor), as well as the potential exploitation of research results for improvement of productivity of selected crop plants.
With pleasure, we organize the international symposium Auxins and Cytokinins in Plant Development. Last ACPD was held in 2009 and the next one should take place in 2014.
Plant hormone auxin is a key regulator of many developmental processes in plants. It plays a major role in control of temporal and spatial aspects of plant growth and, as such, it co-ordinates plant development. In contrast to other plant growth regulators (plant hormones), in some tissues auxin molecules are transported to long distances through plant body and their transport is directional (polar).
Mechanism of the polar auxin transport is based on physical-chemical properties of auxin molecules and on their molecular forms inside and outside cells. It is a very complex and dynamic process with many levels of regulation. Our laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanism of polar auxin transport and on the ways of its regulation. More…
Cytokinins are naturally occurring phytohormones that act in concert with auxins to regulate cell division and differentiation and thus efficiently control plant growth and development. Transient enhancement of auxin in relation to cytokinin levels induces root formation while the opposite shift results in shoot formation. Re-establishment of the two hormone quantitative ratios (hormonal homeostasis) is essential for further development of induced events.
Our laboratory is engaged in the research of cytokinins, i.e. plant hormones that regulate cell division and differentiation and thus efficiently control plant growth and development. Endogenous levels of bioactive cytokinins and their mode of action in plants are regulated at different levels and by various mechanisms concerning biosynthesis, metabolic conversions, inactivation and degradation as well as signalling pathways and transport. More…
Plants have evolved complex systems of defence against, and adaption to, the variable and often potentially damaging environmental conditions to which they are exposed during their growth and development. Due to their sessile character, plants need to respond very dynamically to various abiotic (drought, extreme temperatures, high light intensity) as well as biotic stresses (pest and pathogen attacks).
Our laboratory has focused on the elucidation of plant defence mechanisms, with the aim to contribute to the development of effective strategies to enhance stress tolerance of plants. Drought belongs to the most frequent abiotic stresses. Plants cope with water stress by preferential protection of upper leaves and apex. Gradual degradation of macromolecules takes place in lower leaves, nutrients being transported to upper leaves. Plant hormones cytokinins increase the sink strength. More…
The analytical unit of our laboratory works on improving of existing and developing of new analytical procedures for purification, quantitation and metabolic profiling of plant hormones and some other bioactive substances of plant origin. More…
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