Staff

Name Závada Jan
Position Scientist
Jan Závada

Jan Závada

Scientist


Proteases of Human Pathogens
Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry ASCR, v.v.i.
Flemingovo nam. 2, CZ-166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic

Phone: (+420) 220 183 294
Fax: (+420) 220 183 578

 
Education
1952-1956 Charles' University, Prague (Biology).
 
Appointments
since 2007 Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prague.
1993-2006 Institute of Molecular Genetics, Prague.
1956-1992 Institute of Virology, Bratislava.
 
Experience
1965 Institute of Virology, Glasgow.
1969, 1975 ICRF, London.
1982 Harvard Medical School, Boston.
 
Teaching
1960-1969 Comenius' University, Bratislava (General Virology).
since 1993 Charles' University, Prague (Molecular and Cellular Oncology).
 
Research interest

Phenotypic mixing(pseudotypes) of mutually unrelated viruses, mostly of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) with envelope proteins of retroviruses. Phenotypic mixing turned out to be universal among all envelopedviruses, suggesting a common mechanism of assembly of surface viral proteins.

Somewhat surprisingly, VSV acquires into its envelope also certain cellular proteins, which however mimic viral surface glycoproteins. This enabled us to discover a novel protein - carbonic anhydrase IX (CAIX). It is a transmembrane protein, which like viral gps forms trimers and can attach to cell surface receptors. CAIX is associated with many human carcinomas, it could possibly serve as a tumor marker or as a molecular target for therapy.