Intranet Čeština

Mitochondrial Physiology

Mitochondrial Physiology

Our research group focuses on the role of mitochondria in physiological and pathophysiological processes of the cell and organism. Mitochondria are the main source of cellular energy, ATP, which is essential for maintaining vital cell functions. Additionally, mitochondrial metabolism also leads to the production of oxygen radicals, reactive molecules that have a negative impact on the cell functioning, i.e. irreversible damage of cellular proteins, lipids and DNA (both mitochondrial and nuclear). Such prolonged oxidative stress in extreme cases leads to cell death. Chronic, albeit relatively moderate oxidative stress accompanies number of pathophysiological disorders including neurodegenerative diseases (such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease), but for example also type 2 diabetes and pulmonary hypertension, the etiology of which we study in our laboratory. In case of irreversible damage mitochondria must be removed by specific pathway of autophagy, called mitophagy. This process is crucial for mitochondrial quality control process, disruption of which is accompanied by a number of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, which is where we study the mitophagy. Moreover, mitochondria are semiautonomous organelles for they have mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Genetic manipulation of the mtDNA is rather complicated and yet there has not been found satisfactory method which would allow us for e.g. gene silencing or in-situ quantification of genetic mutations in mtDNA. The development of such techniques is one of out goals. Since mitochondria are rather small organelles and resolution of commonly available light and fluorescence microscopy is not sufficient to study certain aspects of their morphology, we employ special super-resolution fluorescence microscopy. The prototype of such microscope we have recently purchased for our department. We develop further methodologies of “nanoscopy” to study mitochondrial morphology and function. Finally, we study the role of mitochondrial signaling in cancer cells and cancer-specific enzymatic pathways, study of which could be essential for the development of future anticancer drugs.

Concerning applied research, we also develop novel drug carriers to transport specific anticancer drugs called photosensitizers into cancer tissues. Our findings have been patented in Industrial Property Office of the Czech Republic.

 

 

Projects

Publications

Smolková, Katarína - Dvořák, Aleš - Zelenka, Jaroslav - Vítek, L. - Ježek, Petr . Reductive carboxylation and 2-hydroxyglutarate formation by wild-type IDH2 in breast carcinoma cells . International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology. 2015, Vol. 65, AUG 15, p. 125-133 . IF = 4.046 [ASEP] [ doi ]
Pajuelo-Reguera, David - Alán, Lukáš - Olejár, Tomáš - Ježek, Petr . Dichloroacetate stimulates changes in the mitochondrial network morphology via partial mitophagy in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells . International Journal of Oncology. 2015, Vol. 46, 6, p. 2409-2418 . IF = 3.025 [ASEP] [ doi ]
Matěj, R. - Rohan, Z. - Holada, K. - Olejár, Tomáš . The Contribution of Proteinase-Activated Receptors to Intracellular Signaling, Transcellular Transport and Autophagy in Alzheimer´s Disease . Current Alzheimer Research. 2015, Vol. 12, 1, p. 2-12 . IF = 3.889 [ASEP] [ doi ]
Gabrielová, E. - Křen, Vladimír - Jabůrek, Martin - Modriansky, M. Silymarin Component 2,3-dehydrosilybin Attenuates Cardiomyocyte Damage Following Hypoxia/Reoxygenation by Limiting Oxidative Stress . Physiological Research. 2015, Vol. 64, 1, p. 79-91 . IF = 1.293 [ASEP]
Dlasková, Andrea - Engstová, Hana - Plecitá-Hlavatá, Lydie - Lessard, M. - Alán, Lukáš - Reguera Pajuelo, David - Jabůrek, Martin - Ježek, Petr . Distribution of mitochondrial DNA nucleoids inside the linear tubules vs. bulk parts of mitochondrial network as visualized by 4Pi microscopy . Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes. 2015, Vol. 47, 3, p. 255-263 . IF = 3.212 [ASEP] [ doi ]
Alán, Lukáš - Olejár, Tomáš - Cahová, M. - Zelenka, Jaroslav - Berková, Z. - Smětáková, M. - Saudek, F. - Matěj, R. - Ježek, Petr . Delta Cell Hyperplasia in Adult Goto-Kakizaki (GK/MolTac) Diabetic Rats . Journal of Diabetes Research. 2015, Vol. 2015, 2015, p. 385395 . IF = 2.164 [ASEP] [ doi ]
Zelenka, Jaroslav - Alán, Lukáš - Jabůrek, Martin - Ježek, Petr . Import of desired nucleic acid sequences using addressing motif of mitochondrial ribosomal 5S-rRNA for fluorescent in vivo hybridization of mitochondrial DNA and RNA . Journal of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes 2014, roč. 46, 2, p. 147-156. ISSN 0145-479X. IF = 3.212 [ASEP] [ doi ]
Olejár, Tomáš - Větvička, D. - Zadinová, M. - Poučková, P. - Kukal, J. - Ježek, Petr - Matěj, R. Dual Role of Host Par2 in a Murine Model of Spontaneous Metastatic B16 Melanoma . Anticancer Research 2014, roč. 34, 7, p. 3511-3515. ISSN 0250-7005. IF = 1.826 [ASEP]
Matěj, R. - Vašáková, M. - Kukal, J. - Šterclová, M. - Olejár, Tomáš . Higher TGF-beta With Lower CD124 and TSLP, But No Difference in PAR-2 Expression in Bronchial Biopsy of Bronchial Asthma Patients in Comparison With COPD Patients . Applied Immunohistochemistry & Molecular Morphology 2014, roč. 22, 7, p. 543-549. ISSN 1541-2016. IF = 2.012 [ASEP] [ doi ]
Matěj, R. - Smětáková, M. - Vašáková, M. - Nováková, J. - Šterclová, M. - Kukal, J. - Olejár, Tomáš . PAR-2, IL-4R, TGF-beta and TNF-alpha in bronchoalveolar lavage distinguishes extrinsic allergic alveolitis from sarcoidosis . Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 2014, roč. 8, 2, p. 533-538. ISSN 1792-0981. IF = 1.269 [ASEP] [ doi ]

Contacts

Institute of Physiology AS CR, v.v.l.
Depertment of Mitochondrial Physiology
Vídeňská 1083
14220 Prague 4
Czech Republic
tel. +420 241 062 760
  +420 241 065 585
fax. +420 241 062 488
 

petr.jezek@fgu.cas.cz

milos.nekvasil@fgu.cas.cz

People

  RNDr. Petr Ježek, DrSc.
head of the department
  RNDr. Miloš Nekvasil
deputy head of the department
  Mgr. Hana Engstová, Ph.D.
senior researcher
  Ing. Andrea Dlasková, Ph.D.
senior researcher
  Mgr. Martin Jabůrek, Ph.D.
senior researcher
  RNDr. Lydie Plecitá, Ph.D.
senior researcher
  RNDr. Jan Ježek, Ph.D.
postdoc
  MUDr. Tomáš Olejár, Ph.D.
postdoc
  David Pajuelo Reguera, Ph.D.
postdoc
  RNDr. Katarína Smolková, Ph.D.
postdoc
  Mgr. Jitka Špačková (Šantorová), Ph.D.
postdoc
  Ing. Tomáš Špaček, Ph.D.
postdoc
  Ing. Jan Tauber, Ph.D.
postdoc
  Mgr. Lukáš Alán
PhD student
  Mgr. Aleš Dvořák
PhD student
  Sebastian Balvín
pregraduate student
  Lenka Josková
lab technician
  Jitka Smiková
lab technician
  Ludmila Šimečková
lab technician
  Jana Vaicová
lab technician

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